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JAMES FRASER

SECOND BI SHOP OF MANCHESTER

BY

THOMAS HUGHES, O. C.

" He t hat woul d under st and Engl and must under st and her Chur ch,

f or t hat i s hal f t he whol e mat t er . "

Car l yl e' s Jour nal s, FROUDE' S Li f e

MACMI LLAN AND CO.

AND NEW YORK

1889

The Ri ght of Tr ansl at i on and Repr oduct i on i s Reser ved

RI CHARD CLAT AND SONS, LI MI TED,

LONDON AND BUNGAY.

Fi r st Edi t i on ( Demy 8vo) , Pr i nt ed, Febr uar y, 1887.

Repr i nt ed, Mar ch, 1887. New Edi t i on ( Cr own 8vo) , i

Repr i nt ed, 1889.

PREFACE.

THE t hanks of t he r eader s of t hi s book, and of t he Aut hor ,

ar e due t o Mr s. Fr aser , and t o t he f r i ends of t he l at e Bi shop

who have ki ndl y al l owed sel ect i ons f r om t hei r l et t er s t o be

publ i shed, or have f ur ni shed memor anda of t hei r i nt er cour se

wi t h hi m.

Not hi ng el se seems t o be needed i n t he way of pr ef ace

t o a bi ogr aphy of t hi s cl ass. No one can doubt t hat t hi s

t i me has need of men of f ai t h, si mpl i ci t y, and cour age, and

of t hese qual i t i es Bi shop Fr aser was a br i ght exampl e. My

wor k has been onl y t o l et hi m pai nt hi s own pi ct ur e : " good

wi ne needs no bush. "

T. H.

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2067792

CONTENTS.

PART I .

CHAPTER I .

PACE

EARLY YEARS. BRI DGEXORTH AND SHREWSBURY SCHOOLS,

LI NCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD. l 8l 8 1840 3

CHAPTER I I .

ORI EL, 1840 1848 24

CHAPTER I I I .

CHOLDERTOX. I . THE NEW CHURCH. 1847 1849 55

CHAPTER I V.

CHOLDERTON. I I . CHANCELLOR OF SALI SBURY THE NEW

SCHOOLS SUB- COMMI SSI ONER ON ELEMENTARY EDUCA-

TI ON. 1850 1860 83

CHAPTER V.

UFTON NERVET. I . l 86o 1866 . I I O

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI .

PAGE

AMERI CA. 1865 125

CHAPTER VI I .

VFTON NERVET AND THE AGRI CULTURAL CHI LDREN' S COM-

MI SSI ON. 1866 1870 149

PART I I .

CHAPTER I .

THE TRANSI TI ON. 1870 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

CHAPTER I I .

BREAKI NG GROUND I N MANCHESTER. 1870 1871 . . . . . I QI

Page 3 of 87

CHAPTER I I I .

MANCHESTER ; EXTRA DI OCESAN WORK ; HOUSE OF LORDS ;

CONVOCATI ON. 1870 1871 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

CHAPTER I V.

MANCHESTER, 18711875

CHAPTER V.

MANCHESTER ; THE LABOUR QUESTI ON ; TRADES UNI ONS ;

CO- OPERATI ON, 1874 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI .

PAGE

MANCHESTER, 1876 i 88o 258

CHAPTER VI I .

MI LES PLATTI NG, 1873 1874 2/ 9

CHAPTER VI I I .

THE CONVOCATI ON OF YORK, i SSl 1882 313

CHAPTER I X.

MARRI AGE, l 88o ; 18571880 324

CHAPTER X.

MANCHESTER, l 88o 1884 337

CHAPTER XI .

ST. JOHN' S, CHEETHAM HI LL, 1884, 1885 360

CHAPTER XI I .

THE LAST YEAR. 1885 . 373

APPENDI X 391

I NDEX 401

" Engl and f el t t he f ul l heat of t he Chr i st i ani t y whi ch f er ment ed

" Eur ope, and dr ew, l i ke t he chemi st r y of f i r e, a f i r m l i ne bet ween

" bar bar i sm and cul t ur e.

Page 4 of 87

" The Chur ch was t he medi at or , check, and democr at i c pr i nci pl e i n

" Eur ope Lat i mer , Wi cl i f f e, Ar undel , Cobham, Ant hony Par sons, Si r

" Har r y Vane, Geor ge Fox, Penn, Bunyan, ar e t he democr at s, as wel l

" as t he sai nt s, of t hei r t i mes. The Cat hol i c Chur ch, t hr own on t hi s

" t oi l i ng, ser i ous peopl e, has made i n f our t een cent ur i es a massi ve

" syst em, cl ose f i t t ed t o t he manner s and geni us of t he count r y, at once

" domest i cal and st at el y. I n t he l ong t i me i t has bl ended wi t h ever y -

" t hi ng i n heaven above and t he ear t h beneat h. "

EMERSON' S Engl i sh Tr ai l s " Rel i gi on. " '

PART I .

" He who woul d under st and Engl and must under st and her

Chur ch, f or t hat i s hal f of t he whol e mat t er . " CARLYLE' S

" Jour nal , " FROUDE' S Li f e, vol . i i . p. 73.

LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER.

PART I .

CHAPTER I .

" Ther e ar e who ask not i f t hi ne eye

Be on t hem ! who i n l ove and t r ut h,

Wher e no mi sgi vi ng i s, r el y

Upon t he geni al sense of yout h :

Gl ad hear t s, wi t hout r epr oach or bl ot ,

Who do t hy wor k and know i t not . "

WORDSWORTH, Ode t o Dut y.

EARLY YEARS. BRI DGENORTH AND SHREWSBURY SCHOOLS,

LI NCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD. l 8l 8 1840.

18181832.

JAMES FRASER was bor n on t he i 8t h of August , 1818, at

Oakl ands House, i n t he par i sh of Pr est bur y, a Gl oucest er -

shi r e vi l l age nest l i ng under t he Cot swol ds. Hi s f at her , a

cadet of t he Fr aser s of Dur r i s, i n Ki ncar di neshi r e, had gone

t o I ndi a when ver y young and been successf ul as a mer chant .

He was t hus abl e t o r et ur n home, and set t l e, at a com-

par at i vel y ear l y age. He mar r i ed a daught er of Mr . John

B 2

4 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

Wi l l i m, a l eadi ng Sol i ci t or at Bi l st on, St af f or dshi r e, and

James was t he el dest of t hei r seven chi l dr en, t he ot her s

bei ng f i ve boys and one gi r l .

For sever al year s af t er hi s ear l y chi l dhood he spent most

of hi s t i me at hi s gr andf at her ' s at Bi l st on, wher e he soon

began t o show t he abi l i t y whi ch mar ked hi m al l hi s l i f e. Hi s

ear l y l essons gave hi m no t r oubl e. " James seems al ways t o

Page 5 of 87

be whi st l i ng about t he house, " hi s aunt sai d t o a f r i end ; " and

when I ask hi m i f i t i s not t i me t o begi n hi s l essons, hi s

answer i s al ways t he same, ' Oh, I f i ni shed t hem l ong ago. ' "

I n 1824, when he was si x year s ol d, hi s par ent s moved t o

5 Bar i ng Cr escent , Heavi t r ee, near Exet er ; f or t he educa-

t i onal and economi cal advant ages of t hat nei ghbour hood,

and t o be near ol d I ndi an f r i ends of hi s f at her set t l ed i n t hat

west er n ci t y.

Her e James was sent t o hi s f i r st school , at Mount Radf or d

( anot her nei ghbour i ng subur b of Exet er ) . " Ther e I r emai ned

t i l l I was f our t een. The Rev. C. R. Roper was my mast er ,

and an excel l ent one he was. " So t he Bi shop of Manchest er

wr ot e f or t y year s l at er , wi t h hi s usual ki ndl i ness, of one who

may have been a good t eacher , but was scar cel y f i t f or hi s

post i n ot her r espect s. One day, f or i nst ance, t he boy had

had hi s head bur i ed i n hi s desk dur i ng school hour s, af t er

t he manner of boys, wi t h t he heavy l i d hangi ng over hi m.

The head mast er , passi ng al ong, t i l t ed i t , and l et i t f al l on

t he boy' s head, happi l y wi t h no wor se r esul t t han a bad

headache.

Whi l e at Mount Radf or d, Mr . Wi l l i m, hi s gr andf at her ,

wr i t es of hi m t o hi s mot her ( 1825) : " Your pl easi ng account s

of al l t he dear chi l dr en, and par t i cul ar l y t he pr ogr ess dear

James i s maki ng i n hi s l ear ni ng, ar e most gr at i f yi ng t o us.

That boy i s a bl essi ng t o us al l , and some day wi l l be our

pr i de and boast ; at l east I f ul l y ant i ci pat e t hi s. "

CHAP. i . BRI DGENORTH SCHOOL. 5

18301834.

Hi s f at her di ed i n 1832, when he was f our t een. Li ke

ot her successf ul I ndi ans, used t o a busy l i f e, and f i ndi ng

unempl oyed l ei sur e unendur abl e, James Fr aser t he el der

embar ked t he gr eat er par t of hi s pr oper t y i n i r on mi nes, and

ot her pr oper t i es, whi ch hi s exper i ence di d not enabl e hi m t o

manage successf ul l y. The consequence was t hat hi s wi dow

f ound her sel f compar at i vel y poor , wi t h si x sons t o br i ng up.

She l i ved on at . Heavi t r ee, but bot h she her sel f and t he boys

now spent much t i me wi t h her own f ami l y at Bewdl ey, i n

St af f or dshi r e, wher e her br ot her , John Wi l l i m, was now

est abl i shed as a Sol i ci t or . Under hi s advi ce James was sent

t o Br i dgenor t h School , of whi ch Dr . Rowl ey was t hen head

mast er . The t wo year s he spent t her e wer e qui et and pr of i t -

abl e, owi ng mai nl y t o t he abi l i t y of t he doct or , but i n par t

t o t he st i mul at i ng soci et y of sever al school - f el l ows equal l y

abl e wi t h hi msel f . These wer e t he pr esent Lor d Li ngen,

Osbor ne Gor don, and Pul l i ng, al l af t er war ds wi t h hi msel f

hi ghl y di st i ngui shed at Oxf or d, wher e Lor d Li ngen became

I r el and schol ar and a Fel l ow of Bal l i ol , Osbor ne Gor don

censor and t ut or of Chr i st Chur ch, and Pul l i ng, Fel l ow of

Br asenose. At Br i dgenor t h he got t he ni ckname of " peach "

f r om hi s bl oomi ng compl exi on. He l ef t wi t h hi s school -

f el l ows t he i mpr essi on of a good and good- humour ed boy,

whose car eer was l i kel y t o be di st i ngui shed.

The est eem i n whi ch Dr . Rowl ey hel d hi m appear s by t he

f ol l owi ng ext r act f r om t he doct or ' s l et t er t o hi s mot her , dat ed

May 1 2t h, 1834, on hi s r emoval t o Shr ewsbur y : " I am happy

t o say t hat your son i s gi vi ng me ver y gr eat sat i sf act i on.

I deepl y r egr et hi s r emoval . Per haps t he mast er of a cl assi cal

school i s exposed t o no sever er mor t i f i cat i on t han t hat ot

seei ng one of hi s most pr omi si ng pupi l s r emoved t o anot her

Page 6 of 87

6 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

school when he expect s t o r eap t he j ust r ewar d of hi s past

exer t i ons and sol i ci t ude. But I have no r eason t o compl ai n,

and I conf ess t he r eason you gi ve f or pl aci ng your son under

Dr . But l er i s, wi t hout r ef er ence t o t he hi gh mer i t s of t hat

excel l ent mast er , a most sat i sf act or y one. I hope James

wi l l al ways cont i nue t o r egar d me as hi s si ncer e f r i end, and

wi l l vi si t me whenever he f eel s di sposed t o do so. Al l ow

me i n concl usi on t o say t hat i f you f i nd any di f f i cul t y i n com-

pl et i ng hi s educat i on I shoul d be most happy at any t i me t o

r esume t he t ask, wi t hout any ot her r emuner at i on t han t he

pl easur e I shoul d der i ve f r om i nst r uct i ng a yout h f or whom

I have a hi gh' r egar d. " For t y- f our year s l at er , i n t he aut umn

of 1878, Fr aser pr eached t he ser mon at St . Leonar d' s Chur ch,

on t he occasi on of connect i ng t he doct or ' s name wi t h a

pai nt ed wi ndow put up i n t he Chur ch by hi s ol d schol ar s. " Dr .

Rowl ey, " wr i t es Lor d Li ngen, ' ei ght y year s ol d, but st i l l

vi gor ous, was pr esent , and so wer e many of hi s schol ar s,

i ncl udi ng sever al , l i ke t he Bi shop and mysel f , whose st and-

i ng f el l i n t he l ast l ust r um of hal f a cent ur y. The Bi shop

r ef er r ed t o hi s own wi dowed mot her , and t o Dr . Rowl ey' s

consi der at i on f or her at t he t i me when he f i r st came t o t he

school , and gener al l y r ecal l ed i n hi s best manner t he ol d

gent l eman' s many cl ai ms on t he af f ect i on and gr at i t ude of

hi s schol ar s. Then, r ecover i ng hi msel f f r om mer eeul ogi um,

' but Dr . Rowl ey, ' he added, ' was a passi onat e man, ' and

made us al l smi l e at t hi s compl et i on of t he por t r ai t i n t he

pr esence of t he subj ect of i t , and of so many who coul d

appr eci at e how t r ue i t was i n no bad sense. The t ur n of

mi nd whi ch di ct at ed t hi s passage, a mi xt ur e of si mpl i ci t y

and absol ut e si ncer i t y, and of a di sposi t i on t o see t he f unny

at t he same t i me as t he ser i ous si de of t hi ngs, char act er i zes

hi s epi scopal char ges, each of whi ch he sent me as t hey

wer e publ i shed, and I have al ways t hought t hem t he most

CHAP. i . LI FE AT HEAVI TREE. 7

exact r ef l ex I ever met wi t h ' of a wr i t er i n hi s wr i t i ngs. "

Reader s wi l l excuse t hi s ant i ci pat or y di gr essi on f or t he val u-

abl e l i ght whi ch t hey wi l l f i nd i t t hr ows on t he char act er of

our subj ect .

Hi s own ear l y l et t er s, many of whi ch have been pr e-

ser ved, ar e t hose of a br i ght , doci l e, vi gor ous boy, but not

ot her wi se r emar kabl e. One speci men wi l l be enough, t o

hi s mot her , t empor ar i l y absent f r om t hei r Heavi t r ee home,

havi ng l ef t Aunt Lucy, her si st er , i n char ge.

Sept ember gf / i , 1830. " What do you t hi nk I want t he

kennel f or ? Why, i t i s f or a dog I t hi nk you wer e not a

good guesser t o t hi nk a r abbi t , f or r abbi t s ar e al ways kept i n

hut ches, not i n kennel s Mr . Adams pr esent ed i t t o me on

- my bi r t hday. We have named i t Rover , and i t i s j ust t hr ee

mont hs ol d t o- mor r ow. Aunt Lucy, John, Edwar d and I

went out t o pi ck mushr ooms yest er day af t er noon, i t bei ng a

hal f - hol i day, and t ook t he dog out wi t h us. We pi cked none

however , but had a most del i ght f ul wal k as f ar as Sal mon

Pool . We set out at hal f - past t hr ee, and came home at si x.

Aunt Lucy has made some r ai sed veal pi es whi ch ar e ver y

ni ce. I am st ayi ng at home t o- day, havi ng a bad col d, and

have t aken some cal omel . Our school i s goi ng on ver y

wel l we have ni net y- t hr ee boys, of whom f or t y ar e boar der s.

Page 7 of 87

As we wer e at t he Sal mon Pool we met t he Bi shop ( Phi l -

pot t s) wal ki ng al one, and Edwar d, when we f i r st saw hi m

at a di st ance, sai d ' Look at t hat f unny ol d man wi t h an

apr on on, ' and, upon hi s comi ng near er , r an up and came

st ar i ng i n hi s f ace. Aunt Lucy had met hi m at Col onel Mac -

donal d' s. Now I have f i ni shed my l et t er and am goi ng t o

pl ay wi t h my l i t t l e dog, as John and Edwar d ar e gone t o

school . Mr . Tucker t hi nks i t i s a mongr el , but I say he i s

ver y much mi st aken. "

8 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART L.

The l et t er s of t hi s per i od, of whi ch t hi s i s a f ai r speci men,

l eave t he i mpr essi on t hat t he wr i t er was young of hi s age.

Undoubt edl y t hi s was so i n some r espect s, and r emai ned so

al l hi s l i f e ; but , on t he ot her hand, i n many ways hi s char act er

was al r eady mat ur e whi l e he was st i l l a young boy. The

desi r e t o spar e and hel p hi s mot her i n ever y way, above al l

i n t he car e and t r ai ni ng of hi s younger br ot her s, was t he

cause of t hi s, and devel oped hi s r emar kabl e i nst i nct f or

management and busi ness. As soon as t he boys had any

pocket - money " he al ways used t o i mpr ess upon us, " wr i t es

Gener al Fr aser , t he l ast sur vi vor , " t he desi r abl eness of gr ea-

car e wi t h i t , and t o advi se us never t o spend al l , but t o pu

somet hi ng asi de f or r ai ny days. " And agai n, " He f r equent l )

or gani sed pi c- ni cs f or us f r om Exet er t o St ar Cr oss, Powder -

ham Cast l e, on t he Exe and Shi p Canal . We boys used t o

pul l a heavy f our - oar and our mot her woul d st eer , and wi t h

one or t wo ot her l adi es, an aunt or cousi n, we used t o have

ver y happy t i mes. James woul d do t he best par t of t he

wor k t hough as st r oke ; and i n t hi s, as i n most ot her t hi ngs,

we had t o keep hi s t i me. But we wer e al l r at her shy of

goi ng f or a wal k i n t he count r y wi t h hi m, as he woul d st r i de

al ong at such a pace t hat f ew car ed t o keep up wi t h hi m.

On t he ot her hand, he di dn' t al ways car e about wal ki ng i n

t he t own wi t h us, as we wer e sel dom ' got up ' t o hi s sat i s -

f act i on. " The wal ki ng habi t l ast ed al l hi s l i f e. For t y year s

l at er , when t he Gener al was st ayi ng at Bi shop' s Cour t , he

was r ash enough t o accept hi s br ot her ' s i nvi t at i on t o wal k

i nt o Manchest er . At t he end of hal f a mi l e or so he had

had enough, and came t o a dead st op wi t h, " I say, James,

I see a ' bus comi ng down t he hi l l ; I t hi nk I ' l l get i nt o t hat

and meet you i n t he ci t y. "

Hi s passi on f or hor ses, t hough kept st er nl y i n check, was

ver y st r ong. Thei r house i n Heavi t r ee was near t he London

CHAP. I . FAMI LY ESTI MATES OF J. F. 9

Road, and he was f ond of t aki ng hi s younger br ot her s t o

see t he " Qui cksi l ver " mai l pass, whi ch di d t he 176 mi l es

wi t hi n t he ei ght een hour s ; and t he Gener al , who gener al l y

went t o see hi m st ar t f or school i n l at er year s, r emar ked

t hat he al ways managed t o get t he box seat

Ther e ar e al so si gns i n t he ear l y l et t er s of a t ast e f or

shoot i ng i n t he f ami l y of boys, whi ch however was pr obabl y

conf i ned t o smal l bi r ds i n t hat t hi ckl y i nhabi t ed and st r i ct l y

pr eser ved nei ghbour hood. " By t he by, " he wr i t es t o hi s

mot her f r om Shr ewsbur y, " has Ted t aken over t he gun t o

Mr . Shor t ' s? I f not I wi sh he woul d do so di r ect l y, and

t ake i t over f r equent l y, say once a f or t ni ght or so, t o l et hi m

see i f i t i s cl ean or not . " . . . " The Wonder t her e' s

a coach f or t he money came her e t hi s day ( Sat ur day) week

Page 8 of 87

wi t h al l our f el l ows and t hei r l uggage on, as f ul l as i t coul d

hol d, i n f our t een hour s and t hr ee- quar t er s, 159 mi l es. The

Ant el ope was f i f t een hour s. "

Amongst t he sedul ousl y pr eser ved packet s of paper s of

t hi s t i me, t i ed up and car ef ul l y l abel l ed by hi s mot her , ar e

speci mens of James' s exer ci ses, f r om whi ch t he f ol l owi ng

pr ophet i c sent ences ( 1829) may be t aken as char act er i st i c:

" Educat i on i s t he sour ce of happi ness t o soci et y. A man

wi t hout educat i on can be but l i t t l e bet t er t han a beast . The

advant ages of i t ar e ver y evi dent , si nce i t pr oduces al l t he

happi ness of whi ch man i s possessed, " &c. , &c.

Fr om t he f i r st Mr s. Fr aser hear d not hi ng but pr ai se of her

el dest boy, a much- needed suppor t i n pr esence of t he l oss

of her husband and consequent embar r assment s. How hi s

r eput at i on gr ew i n t he f ami l y ci r cl e may be gat her ed f r om

an ext r act or t wo f r om t he l et t er s of t hi s per i od.

Mr . J. Wi l l i mt o Mr s. Fr aser . Jul y i gt A, 1829. " I wi l l

dr i ve t hem ( James and John) t o Bi r mi ngham, and see t hem

i o LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

saf el y of f . Pr obabl y I may meet wi t h some gent l eman on

t he coach under whose car e I can pl ace t hem, but i f not I

am sat i sf i ed t hey ar e bot h capabl e of t aki ng car e of t hem-

sel ves. And now, my dear Hel en, havi ng t hus ar r anged f or

t he depar t ur e of my t wo dear gr andsons, i t wi l l gi ve you

hear t f el t pl easur e t o hear what good boy' s t hey have been al l

t he t i me t hey have been wi t h us. Ever y one says what f i ne

boys t hey ar e, and I assur e you we ar e al l qui t e pr oud of t hem.

They ar e f ul l of spi r i t s, but have not , as you suspect ed, been

t oo noi sy f or t hei r gr andmamma and me, who ar e wel l

pl eased t o see t hem agr ee so wel l wi t h each ot her . They

ar e cl ever boys, especi al l y James, who has t al ent s of a ver y

super i or ki nd, and wi l l show t hemsel ves t o gr eat advant age

i n a f ew year s I have not t he l east doubt . They have

gr eat l y enj oyed t hemsel ves i n t he excur si ons t o Dudl ey

Cast l e, &c. , and i t i s a gr eat sat i sf act i on t o see t hem i n such

f i ne heal t h a sound mi nd i n a sound body i s t he gr eat est

bl essi ng on ear t h. "

Mi ss Lucy Wi l l i m t o Mr s. Fr aser ( same dat e) . " You wi l l

be pl eased t o r ead dear f at her ' s account of t he boys. They

r eal l y have been ver y good chi l dr en. Cat her i ne has been

qui t e ast oni shed at James' s t al ent and qui ckness i n Fr ench,

much mor e so t han Anne even, and she was ver y qui ck.

She says he has qui t e sur pr i sed her , he has such a cl ear

head, st r ong memor y, and good j udgment . They have

behaved ver y wel l i ndeed, par t i cul ar l y havi ng been so

conf i ned t o t he house. "

I n Januar y, 1833, Mi ss Wi l l i m wr i t es t o her si st er , Mr s.

Fr aser : " Hi s gr andf at her i s const ant l y excl ai mi ng, ' What

a ni ce l ad James i s, and what an excel l ent char act er he has

gai ned hi msel f ! Do t el l poor Hel en about hi m, i t wi l l be

CHAP. I . FI NANCI AL DI FFI CULTI ES. I I

so cheer i ng t o her . " Wr i t e t o- day. ' " Thi s Aunt Lucy does,

not hi ng l oat h, addi ng, " Dear James l ef t us yest er day mor n-

Page 9 of 87

i ng, and I am happy t o say i n excel l ent spi r i t s, nor di d t hey

f l ag, I under st and, when hi s uncl e par t ed f r om hi m. They

went i n John' s gi g, James dr i vi ng. John di ned at t he

Rowl eys' , and had a good deal of conver sat i on wi t h t hem.

He f i r st saw Mr s. Rowl ey, who spoke of dear James i n t he

hi ghest t er ms, and on John' s sayi ng how much gr at i f i ed hi s

poor mot her was wi t h Mr . Rowl ey' s l et t er r espect i ng hi m,

she r epl i ed, ' I am sur e he i s ever y way deser vi ng of what

was sai d of hi m, f or we never had a pl easant er boy i n our

house ; and Mr . Rowl ey i s equal l y sat i sf i ed wi t h hi m i n hi s

st udi es. ' She al so sai d : ' I know t hat Mr . Rowl ey, r at her

t han par t wi t h hi m, woul d sooner l ower hi s t er ms i f neces -

sar y. ' Mr . Rowl ey, t oo, spoke most hi ghl y of James, as t o

hi s t al ent s and i ndust r y as wel l as hi s gener al conduct .

Af t er he had r ead your l et t er " [ t el l i ng of her husband' s

deat h, and her own r educed ci r cumst ances] " he i mmedi at el y

sai d, ' James shal l have hi s si ngl e bed as usual ' ; and on

bei ng pai d hi s bi l l , r et ur ned t o John t he char ge t hat had

been made f or i t f or t he l ast hal f year . He obser ved, t oo,

t hat f or t he f ut ur e he di d not t hi nk hi s hal f - year l y bi l l woul d

amount t o mor e t han z6L or zy/ . "

Her e i s a speci men ext r act f r om t he Br i dgenor t h l et t er s :

" Febr uar y 22nd, 1833. A good many boys have l ef t , and I

am now i n t he st udy by r i ght , but do not si t up t her e because

t hose i n t he st udy do not l i ke movi ng up i nt o t he head r oom,

and I do not pr ess t hem as I am ver y wel l cont ent ed wher e

I now am, bei ng head boy of t he l ower r oom, and ei ght eent h

i n t he school . I t ake one penny publ i cat i on cal l ed t he Penny

Cydopt zdi a, whi ch i s t o be compl et ed i n seven year s, and

one t wopenny one, The Thi ef ; bot h of t hem I t hi nk ar e use-

12 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PARTI .

f ul and ent er t ai ni ng, and I may as wel l l ay out my money i n

t hose as i n anyt hi ng el se. They ar e ver y cheap, and Mr .

Rowl ey r ecommends t hem st r ongl y. I shoul d t hi nk John

and Edwar d woul d l i ke t o t ake t hem i n. As you see I her e

send you a copy of my wi l l , whi ch I have been advi sed t o

make by Uncl e John, who t ol d me I was of age t o do so

and t o l eave my pr oper t y i n what way I l i ked, as he sai d t he

uncer t ai nt y of l i f e was so l ament abl e. As t hi s wi l l meet t he

eye of Aunt Wi l l i m, I must t el l her t hat she put me up no

soap, t oot hbr ush or powder , whi ch I have been obl i ged t o

buy and am now suppl i ed. Wi t h me t he t i me passes ver y

qui ckl y now; at f i r st i t was j ust t he cont r ar y. I f any of you

l i ke i t I wi l l send you ever y mont h a par t of The Thi ef an<\

Encycl opedi a^ I can easi l y do so. I have cover ed al l my

books wi t h br own paper and I hope t hey ar e i n good or der :

t hey ar e al l r i ght , none mi ssi ng when I came. We have had

snow her e and a gr eat deal of snowbal l i ng, f r om whi ch I

caught a col d whi ch I have at pr esent . I bel i ave t hi s i s t he

l ongest l et t er and t he bi ggest sheet I ever wr ot e on, and

havi ng exhaust ed my news I must concl ude, beggi ng t o be

r emember ed t o al l f r i ends, and hopi ng you ar e i n bet t er

spi r i t s t han when I saw you l ast , and t hat John and Edwar d

ar e i ndust r i ous at school . "

The wi l l , a copy of whi ch was. - encl osed, was as f ol l ows : " I ,

James Fr aser , l at e of Bar i ng Cr escent , i n t he Count y of

Devon, but now a st udent at Br i dgenor t h School , i n t he

Count y of Sal op, bei ng i n t he f i f t eent h year of my age, do

her eby gi ve and bequeat h al l my pr oper t y of what descr i pt i on

soever t o my dear l y bel oved mot her , Hel en Fr aser , t o be

made use of by her accor di ng t o her di scr et i on. " Uncl e

John by t he same post i nf or ms hi s si st er t hat " dear James

Page 10 of 87

has dr awn i t hi msel f wi t hout any i nst r uct i ons f r om any

of us. "

CHAP. I . DR. BUTLER ON J. F. 13

18341836.

I n 1834, James, as we have hear d al r eady, was r emoved

t o Shr ewsbur y, t hen enj oyi ng a ver y hi gh r eput at i on under

Dr . But l er . Hi s mot her , who was anxi ous t o gi ve hi m ever y

possi bl e advant age, at any sacr i f i ce t o her sel f , coul d not have

chosen bet t er . A nei ghbour i ng squi r e, a f r i end of Mr . Wi l l i m,

whose son, a year ol der t han James, had been f or sever al

year s at t he school , vol unt eer ed t hat t he new boy shoul d go

under t hi s son' s wi ng. The new boy however was at once

pl aced a f or m or t wo above hi s pr ot ect or , and ot her wi se

pr oved hi msel f , f r om t he f i r st , qui t e abl e t o hol d hi s own.

For ei ght een mont hs Dr . But l er cont i nued head mast er ,

unt i l t he eve of hi s appoi nt ment t o t he Bi shopr i c of Li chf i el d.

Fr aser had come under hi s own hand i n t he si xt h f or m, and

had gai ned hi s ent i r e appr oval f r om t he f i r st . " I t gi ves me

gr eat pl easur e, " he wr i t es, on Mar ch 3ot h, 1835, " * cont i nue

my good r epor t s of Fr aser . No boy can be mor e at t ent i ve,

or conduct hi msel f bet t er t han he does. He cannot f ai l of

doi ng wel l . " At t he pr evi ous Chr i st mas, hi s mot her had

t hought of al l owi ng hi m at once t o go up t o Oxf or d, wher e

she woul d seem t o have had some of f er of a Bi bl e cl er kshi p,

or ot her posi t i on of t hat ki nd. As t o t hi s however Dr .

But l er wr i t es even per empt or i l y : " Wi t h r egar d t o hi s admi s -

si on at Oxf or d, i t must not be t hought of t hi s year . I t i s of

consequence t hat he shoul d go t her e wi t h ever y possi bl e ad-

vant age, whi ch he wi l l do wi t h much gr eat er pr ospect s of

success i f he st ays at school l ong enough t o become an

accompl i shed schol ar . For he must be capabl e of of f er i ng

hi msel f f or t he hi ghest di st i nct i ons, and t hese I f l at t er mysel f

he i s l i kel y t o at t ai n. I am ver y anxi ous f or hi s wel f ar e and

i mpr ovement , and desi r e t o pr omot e i t by ever y means i n

my power . "

I 4 LI FE OF ' BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

I n Januar y, 1836, Dr . But l er i nf or med t he par ent s of

boys at Shr ewsbur y t hat he i nt ended t o r esi gn at mi d-

summer . I n r epl y, Mr s. Fr aser wr i t es, Januar y 26t h, 1836,

t hanki ng t he doct or f or hi s " cont i nued l i ber al i t y i n al l owi ng

James t he benef i t of pr i vat e t ui t i on gr at i s " ; and begs f or

t he doct or ' s i nf l uence wi t h hi s successor , t o cont i nue " t he

i nt er est whi ch you have so war ml y evi nced t owar ds hi m

your sel f ; f or , unai ded by your i nf l uence and i nt er cessi on, I

cannot l ook f or i t at t he hands of a st r anger , who i s

t ot al l y unacquai nt ed wi t h my pecul i ar si t uat i on and l i mi t ed

means. "

Dr . But l er mor e t han sat i sf i ed t he wi dow' s hopes. Hi s

successor , Dr . Kennedy, af t er war ds Pr of essor of Gr eek at

Cambr i dge, cont i nued t he pr i vat e t ui t i on, and even wi t h

bet t er r esul t s t han hi s mor e wi del y f amous pr edecessor .

Fr aser decl ar ed agai n and agai n i n l at er year s t hat hi s

t hr ee mont hs at Shr ewsbur y under Kennedy wer e mor e

val uabl e t han any ot her si x, ei t her at school or Oxf or d, f or

dur i ng t hat t i me, and under hi m, he " l ear nt how t o r ead an

anci ent aut hor . "

Page 11 of 87

Hi s mot her ' s t r i al s, sever e as t hey had been, wer e des -

t i ned t o be yet heavi er . Al most bef or e t he mour ni ng f or her

husband had ceased, she l ost her onl y daught er , a gi r l of

t hr ee, and St ewar t , a boy of f i ve, by scar l et f ever . James

was t hen at Shr ewsbur y, whence he wr ot e a l et t er whi ch

hi s mot her al ways kept by her ; and, showi ng i t t o a f r i end

i n Manchest er shor t l y bef or e her deat h, spoke of i t as havi ng

been her most pr eci ous t r easur e i n al l t he i nt er veni ng year s.

The par t of i t whi ch may be publ i shed r uns : " I am f ul l y

awar e how you wi l l mi ss her i nnocent pr at t l e, her l i spi ng

t ongue, her happy, af f ect i onat e l ooks. I f ul l wel l know t hat

you have dr unk t he cup of af f l i ct i on t o t he dr egs; and,

t hough one who mi ght have been a pr op and sol ace t o an

CHAP. I . DR. BUTLER' S SPEECH I N SCHOOL. 15

af f ect i onat e mot her ' s decl i ni ng year s has t hus been unt i mel y

snat ched away, yet I t r ust , my f ondest mot her , i t wi l l ever be

t he pr oudest boast of her si x r emai ni ng sons t o make t he

comf or t and happi ness of one, t o whose mat er nal sol i ci t ude

t hey ar e al l so deepl y i ndebt ed, t hei r f i r st at t ent i on and t hei r

ear l i est car e. And be assur ed, my dear est mot her , t hat , so

l ong as i t shal l pl ease God t o pr ol ong my days upon ear t h, i t

wi l l be t he happi est moment of my l i f e t o cont r i but e t o t he

comf or t and t o al l evi at e t he car es of t hat mot her who has

under gone so many t r i al s, who has deni ed her sel f so many

i ndul gences, f or , and who has best owed so much at t ent i on

on, her ever dut i f ul and most af f ect i onat e son, James

Fr aser . "

To hi s Mot her . Oct . i 6/ A, 1834. " Uncl e need not f uss

hi msel f about t he Doct or becomi ng a Bi shop, as i t i s al l a f ad.

He came i nt o t he school t he ot her day wi t h a new gown,

and I wi l l r el at e t o you as near l y as possi bl e t he speech he

made on t hat occasi on. ' When Lor d Chest er f i el d, ' sai d he,

' was Vi cer oy of I r el and, t her e was a r epor t t hat he was

goi ng t o l eave, and as he di d not know how t o cont r adi ct t he

r epor t , f or he t hought wr i t i ng i n t he paper woul d be no

good, he bet hought hi msel f , of t he f ol l owi ng expedi ent .

He cal l ed hi s gar dener and t ol d hi m t o pl ant a whol e f i el d

wi t h aspar agus, and as t hat i s t hr ee year s i n comi ng t o

per f ect i on so t he peopl e mi ght know he was not goi ng

t o l eave t hem. I n l i ke manner , ' sai d t he Doct or , ' I have

bought a new gown wi t h t he l i ke i nt ent i on ; i ndeed, I have

l ong known who i s t o be appoi nt ed t o t he Bi shopr i c, but I

mean t o r emai n mast er of t hi s school so l ong as my heal t h

and st r engt h wi l l per mi t . ' On whi ch t he boys wi t h one

accor d gave a t r emendous shout of appl ause. So my dear

uncl e need not t r oubl e hi msel f any f ur t her about t he mat t er . "

16 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

Al t hough hi s mot her was not cer t ai n t hat she shoul d

be abl e t o send hi m t o t he Uni ver si t y, hi s name was ent er ed

at Bal l i ol when he was sevent een ; and Dr . But l er sent hi m

up t o compet e soon af t er war ds f or a schol ar shi p at Cor pus.

He was not successf ul , t o t he gr eat subsequent r egr et of t he

aut hor i t i es of t hat Col l ege. I n Mar ch, 1836, he was agai n

sent up, t o t r y f or a Li ncol n schol ar shi p, wor t h 387. a year .

Thi s t i me he was si ngul ar l y successf ul , owi ng mai nl y t o t he

f act t hat Ri char d Mi chel l , t he best known and most success -

f ul of al l " coaches " of t hat day, was Dean of Li ncol n

Col l ege, and one of t he exami ner s. Wi t h hi m, Fr aser ' s

f i r st paper set t l ed t he quest i on, and he was el ect ed by

Page 12 of 87

accl amat i on. The schol ar shi p was an open one, and t her e

wer e t went y- si x candi dat es, of whom t went y wer e al r eady i n

r esi dence, and t her e was no l i mi t as t o age. The success

t her ef or e was a ver y gr eat one.

Her e i s hi s l et t er t o hi s mot her on get t i ng back t o Shr ews -

bur y : " You wer e doubt l ess somewhat sur pr i sed, and I hope

del i ght ed, t o hear of my good f or t une at Oxf or d i n gai ni ng

t he Li ncol n schol ar shi p, f or i t was r at her a sudden t hi ng

al t oget her . I wi l l , however , gi ve you t he whol e hi st or y of t he

t r ansact i on. On Monday mor ni ng t he Doct or cal l ed me up,

and asked me i f I was ent er ed anywher e, as he t hought

i t was t i me I shoul d be. I answer ed ' no, ' as I f or got at t he

t i me t hat I was ent er ed at Bal l i ol , or r at her I di d not know

i t t i l l Uncl e John wr ot e me wor d t hat such was t he case.

The Doct or t hen t ol d me t her e wer e f our vacant schol ar shi ps

at Li ncol n, whi ch he t hought a ver y good openi ng, and t hat

I must be up t her e on Thur sday next . Now t hi s was

Monday. But as he di d not know t hei r val ue, whet her t hey

wer e wor t h t he expense of goi ng up f or , he t ol d me t o wr i t e

t o Rober t Dukes, who was her e, and i s now a schol ar of

Li ncol n, and make al l r equi si t e i nqui r i es. I wr ot e i mmedi -

CHAP. I SCHOLARSHI P AT LI NCOLN. 17

at el y, and al so t o Uncl e John, and r ecei ved bot h t hei r

answer s on Wednesday af t er noon, vi z. : Uncl e John' s t hat I

shoul d be gui ded by t he Doct or ; and Duke' s, t hat t he val ue

of t hem was 387. , whi ch was wor t h 6ol . at any ot her col l ege,

as Li ncol n i s a ver y cheap one, and t hat my expenses excl u-

si ve of my schol ar shi p woul d not exceed 1507. On r ecei pt

of t hese I r esol ved t o go, and accor di ngl y t he Doct or

f ur ni shed me wi t h 5/ . f or my expenses, whi ch by t he by was

scar cel y suf f i ci ent , as I had t o st op a week i n Oxf or d, and I

st ar t ed per t he Ni mr od t o Bi r mi ngham, at f i ve A. M. on

Thur sday, got t her e i n t i me f or t he Oxf or d coach ' t he Day, '

and ar r i ved at my dest i nat i on at si x P. M. Ear l y next mor n-

i ng I pr esent ed mysel f t o t he Sub- Rect or and gave i n my

cr edent i al s. We t hen went i n f or exami nat i on, whi ch con-

t i nued t i l l Tuesday eveni ng, when at f our o' cl ock I was

del i ght f ul l y sur pr i sed t o hear t hat I was el ect ed f i r st schol ar

of Li ncol n. Next day I mat r i cul at ed, and became a member

of t he anci ent Uni ver si t y of Oxf or d. I shal l be obl i ged

t o r esi de i n Oct ober , whi ch i s somewhat sooner t han I

expect ed. "

Uncl e Wi l l i m, who had sent t he news t o hi s si st er , i s,

nat ur al l y enough, j ubi l ant over , " James' s gl or i ous success, "

t he f i nanci al di f f i cul t y of an Oxf or d car eer bei ng now sat i s -

f act or i l y set t l ed. " James, " as second boy i n Shr ewsbur y

School , hi s uncl e goes on t o say, " i s one of t he commi t t ee

of t hr ee who ar e get t i ng up t he t est i moni al ser vi ce of pl at e

t o Dr . But l er on hi s r esi gnat i on. He has been asked t o

Ar chdeacon Bat her ' s, t o meet Mr . What el y, Q. C. , l eader of

t he ci r cui t , and ot her bar r i st er s, ol d Shr ewsbur y boys, who

ar e al so get t i ng up a separ at e t est i moni al . " James i s qui t e

a l i on amongst al l Shr ewsbur y boys, past and pr esent , af t er

hi s Li ncol n f eat ; and Uncl e Wi l l i m t hi nks " he ought now

t o add anot her gui nea t o hi s subscr i pt i on of t wo gui neas t o

c

i S LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

Page 13 of 87

t he school t est i moni al i f i t can be done wi t hout bei ng

r emar kabl e, sever al of t he ot her si xt h f or m boys havi ng

gi ven t hr ee, and even f our gui neas. "

He went i nt o r esi dence at Li ncol n i n Januar y, 1837.

Pr obabl y no man' s car eer as an under gr aduat e at Oxf or d was

ever mor e cr edi t abl e, or mor e monot onous, t han hi s. Hi s

most i nt i mat e f r i end, and ol d school f el l ow, Sal e, by t hi s

t i me a demy of Magdal en, who was wi t h hi m al most dai l y,

can r ecal l not hi ng but t hei r r egul ar wal ks i n t he way of

exer ci se and di ver si on. " We wer e good f r i ends, " Lor d

Li ngen wr i t es, " but not par t i cul ar l y i nt i mat e. " He r ead

har d f r om t he f i r st day of hi s r esi dence, wi t hout a br eak.

He coul d not af f or d a pr i vat e t ut or ; but was i n t hi s mat t er

r eal l y at no gr eat di sadvant age. For Mi chel l , who f r om t he

day of hi s schol ar shi p exami nat i on had f or med a ver y hi gh

est i mat e of hi s abi l i t i es, gave hi m const ant advi ce and hel p

wi t hout f ee, f or t he cr edi t of t he col l ege. The gr eat

" coach' s " f or esi ght and l i ber al i t y wer e ampl y r ewar ded

i n t he sequel .

Hi s r i gi d economy, as cr edi t abl e as i t was r ar e i n t hose

days, i s spoken t o by al l hi s f r i ends. Even i n t he mat t er of

books, Sal e and ot her s agr ee t hat hi s l i br ar y was most i ncon-

veni ent l y smal l . He never r ode at Oxf or d t i l l af t er he had

t aken hi s degr ee. And i t must be r emember ed t hat he was

not one of t hose who ar e bor n st udent s, and who never

appr eci at e t he yvf i vaar i K^ i n educat i on. On t he cont r ar y,

t he t est i mony of al l t hose cont empor ar i es who knew hi m

most i nt i mat el y agr ees t hat he was never a st udent i n t he

t r ue sense of t he wor d, t hough he had t hat most envi abl e

power , whi ch Char l es Ki ngsl ey possessed per haps i n gr eat er

per f ect i on t han any ot her man of t hat gener at i on, of dr awi ng

t he hear t out of a book on a sl i ght , and appar ent l y cur sor y

CHAP. i . SCHOLAR OF LI NCOLN. 19

r eadi ng. He was i ndeed essent i al l y ( t o use agai n hi s

f avour i t e Ar i st ot el i an l anguage) dvr j p Tr paKTt Kos r at her t han

Oet Dpr j TLKos. He had magni f i cent t hews and si news, and was

by no means i ndi f f er ent t o t hei r cul t i vat i on ; t hough he chose

del i ber at el y t o r est r i ct hi msel f , i n t hat depar t ment , t o t he

r egul ar use of heavy dumb bel l s ; whi l e f or hor ses, as has

been al r eady not ed, he had somet hi ng appr oachi ng t o a

passi on. Then agai n, he was of an ext r emel y soci al t emper a-

ment , and made and kept f r i ends wi t h qui t e unusual ease.

He was al so deci dedl y f ond of good dr ess as wel l as good

company. But , as an under gr aduat e, he gave no par t i es, and

went t o none ; and dr essed wi t h gr eat economy. No man

had gr eat er nat ur al t ast e f or enj oyment , or al l owed hi s

nat ur al t ast e l ess pl ay.

The r esul t was t hat t he st er n sel f - r est r ai nt of t hese t hr ee

year s gave hi m t he most per f ect sel f - cont r ol t hr ough l i f e.

Li ber al and hospi t abl e as he became t he moment he f el t hi s

f i nanci al posi t i on a saf e one, he never per mi t t ed hi msel f , or

woul d t ol er at e i n ot her s, si l l y or wast ef ul expendi t ur e of any

ki nd. The Chur ch of whi ch he became so emi nent a

Past or was sai d, hal f j est i ngl y, hal f appr ovi ngl y, by

Emer son, " t o bel i eve i n a Pr ovi dence whi ch does not

t r eat wi t h l evi t y a pound st er l i ng. " Whet her t r ue or not

of t he body, t he sayi ng was cer t ai nl y t r ue of hi m. No

par t of hi s mi ni st r y was mor e r emar kabl e, or mor e success -

f ul , as we shal l see, t han hi s t eachi ng of t hr i f t , by pr ecept

and exampl e, t o hi s poor .

Page 14 of 87

1837-

I n 1837 he was an unsuccessf ul candi dat e f or t he Her t f or d

Lat i n schol ar shi p.

Hi s f i r st Uni ver si t y di st i nct i on came i n hi s second year ,

when he went i n f or t he I r el and schol ar shi p. Out of a

c 2

20 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

l ar ge f i el d, he and one ot her candi dat e wer e sel ect ed as un-

quest i onabl y t he best . The ot her was hi s ol d Br i dgenor t h

school f el l ow, Li ngen, now a schol ar of Tr i ni t y. Addi t i onal

paper s wer e set t o t hese t wo, and st i l l t he r esul t r emai ned

doubt f ul . I t was sai d at t he t i me t hat t he event was deci ded

by count i ng t he accent s i n a Gr eek paper . The r ecent l y

publ i shed aut obi ogr aphy of Ar chdeacon Deni son, however ,

has t hr own new l i ght on t hi s f amous cont est , and does not

conf i r m t he cont empor ar y st or y. The Ar chdeacon was one

of t he t hr ee exami ner s, and, i t seems, was i n f avour of

Li ngen ; whi l e t he ot her t wo i ncl i ned t o Fr aser . They sat

up t i l l l at e i n t he ni ght debat i ng t he mat t er , and t he

Ar chdeacon names i t as a t r i umph of hi s power s of per sua-

si on, or of hi s per t i naci t y, t hat he br ought hi s col l eagues

r ound t o hi s vi ew. However t hi s may be, Li ngen was

el ect ed, but t he wor ds " Jacobus Fr aser a col l . Li ne, quam

pr oxi me accessi t " wer e added t o t he usual announcement .

The next year he was " f aci l e pr i nceps" and dul y el ect ed

I r el and schol ar .

1839.

I n t he aut umn of t hi s year , 1839, t he l ast bef or e hi s

degr ee, Mi chel l t ook a r eadi ng par t y t o Shankl i n. Amongst

t hem was Fr aser , whom he was coachi ng f or l ove and t he

honour of Li ncol n. Mr . J. A. Fr oude was one of t he par t y,

and t he r esul t was a l i f e- l ong i nt i macy bet ween t he t wo

pupi l s, t hough i n l at er year s t hey met but sel dom. " He

was t he- l i ght est - hear t ed of us al l , " wr i t es Mr . Fr oude, " I used

t o t hi nk hi m even boyi sh ; but Mi chel l t ol d me af t er t he

exami nat i on t hat he had done enough f or t en f i r st s. When

he st ood f or t he Or i el Fel l owshi p I r ecol l ect obser vi ng t o

Chur ch " ( t hen a t ut or of Or i el , now Dean of St . Paul ' s)

" t hat , however good a schol ar he mi ght be, he had no

CHAP. i . FI RST- CLASS AND FELLOW OF ORI EL. 21

or i gi nal t hought . Chur ch t ol d me af t er t he exami nat i on

t hat hi s t hought was young r at her t han absent . So i t al ways

r emai ned. "

1840.

He came out i n t he f i r st cl ass i n t he exami nat i on i n

November , 1 839, when he t ook hi s bachel or ' s degr ee ; and i n

Apr i l , 1840, was el ect ed Fel l ow of Or i el . On t hi s cr owni ng

t r i umph, hi s ol d school f el l ow and f ai t hf ul f r i end, C. J. Sal e,

wr ot e t hus t o hi s mot her : " Now t hat your son has f i ni shed

hi s or deal at t he Uni ver si t y i n t he most br i l l i ant and exem-

pl ar y manner , I cannot r ef r ai n f r om of f er i ng you my hear t f el t

congr at ul at i ons at t he success of my si ncer est f r i end, i n whi ch

I am conf i dent al l hi s f r i ends, by whom he i s equal l y l oved,

Page 15 of 87

wi l l j oi n. You have i ndeed r eason t o be pr oud of James, as

i t has never been my l ot t o see any young man bear hi s

numer ous honour s i n a manner so humbl e, and f r ee f r om

ar r ogance. I can onl y add my si ncer e pr ayer f or hi s success

t hr ough l i f e ; and wi t h pl easur e ant i ci pat e t hat i t wi l l equal ,

as i t cannot sur pass, t hat whi ch he has al r eady so nobl y

ear ned f or hi msel f . Your pl easur e must have been doubl y

enhanced at hear i ng of hi s el ect i on, as he i nf or med me you

had gi ven up near l y al l hope, f r om hi s account of hi msel f .

But t hi s event has now conf i r med my i dea, t hat t he wor d

' f ai l ' i s not t o be f ound i n hi s di ct i onar y. I do not f ear i t s

appear ance t her e. "

The al l usi on i n Sal e' s l et t er i s t o t he f ol l owi ng l et t er f r om

James t o hi s mot her :

" LI NCOLN COLLEGE, OXON. ,

" Apr i l i $t h, 1840.

" MY DEAREST MOTHER, As i n your l et t er bef or e l ast

you sai d you had been expect i ng t o hear f r om me, whi ch

expect at i on has not yet been gr at i f i ed, I si t down t o wr i t e

22

LI FE OF BI SHOP ERASER. PARTI

you a f ew hur r i ed l i nes, hopi ng you wi l l , upon due consi der -

at i on of my exi st i ng ci r cumst ances, excuse t hei r br evi t y and

conci seness. Let me f i r st ask you i f you have had t he Apr i l

r epor t f r om Addi scombe ; i f so, l et me know t he number s

and posi t i on whi ch Ted occupi es. I am r eadi ng as har d as

I can, t hough I f ear wi t h l i t t l e pr ospect of success ; not ,

however , so much f r om t he number , as f r om t he qual i t y of

my r i val s, or r at her , r i val . For t hough ( i t bei ng near l y a

cl ose Fel l owshi p) t her e ar e onl y f our compet i t or s f or t he

same* honour wi t h mysel f , yet one of t hese i s as f or mi dabl e

a one as coul d have been sel ect ed f or me out of t he whol e

Uni ver si t y. He r ej oi ces i n t he name of Mount ague Ber nar d,

and i s a B. A. of Exet er Col l ege : he cer t ai nl y onl y got a

second cl ass, but as t hat was near l y t hr ee year s ago and he

has been r eadi ng wi t h t hi s exami nat i on i n pr ospect ever

si nce, hi s acqui r ement s at t he pr esent moment may be, and

pr obabl y ar e, enough t o gi ve hi m a doubl e or t r ebl e f i r st i n

t he school s, wer e such an honour at t ai nabl e. I n t hi s i nt er val

he has gai ned t wo Engl i sh essays ( whi ch ar e consi der ed

equal t o a f i r st cl ass) and beat sever al super i or f i r st - cl ass men

f or t hem, and as t he st yl e of t he Or i el exami nat i on i s t ot o

ct el o di f f er ent f r om t hat i n t he school s whi ch I passed i n

Mi chael mas, and consi st s chi ef l y i n essay wr i t i ng and met a-

physi cs, wi shi ng t o make men di spl ay power s of deep and

or i gi nal t hi nki ng, I f eel t oo per cept i bl y my own weakness

on t hose poi nt s t o ent er t ai n t he l east ant i ci pat i ons of success,

however ' devout l y t o be wi shed f or ' such a consumma-

t i on mi ght be ; i n f act my r eadi ng has not as yet been

ext ensi ve enough t o enabl e me t o st and a good chance at

t hi s, by f ar t he most t r yi ng exami nat i on i n Oxf or d, so I hope

you wi l l be no mor e di sappoi nt ed t han I shal l be, i n case of

a f ai l ur e. As f or what John Hughes says, I never hear d

such st uf f i n my l i f e, nor was any man ever di gni f i ed her e

Page 16 of 87

CHAP. I . FELLOW OF ORI EL. 23

wi t h such f l at t er i ng appel l at i ves as hi s i magi nat i ve and

cr eat i ve br ai n has i nvent ed f or my unwor t hy sel f . And as

f or i t s bei ng consi der ed cer t ai n t hat I shal l get t he Or i el , I

mysel f hear d t wo t o one l ai d agai nst such an event at a

wi ne- par t y t he ot her eveni ng. The exami nat i on begi ns on

Monday and concl udes on Thur sday ; t he r esul t i s decl ar ed

on Fr i day. I was occupi ed al l yest er day i n wr i t i ng Lat i n

l et t er s of r ecommendat i on t o my si xt een f ut ur e j udges at

Or i el , and you may i magi ne was t ol er abl y t i r ed at t he

concl usi on. Best l ove t o al l , and bel i eve me, my dear mot her ,

" Your ver y af f ect i onat e son,

" JAMES FRASER. "

On t he event f ul Fr i day t he announcement of hi s success

was made i n Or i el Hal l , and he wr ot e t o hi s mot her :

" MY DEAREST MOTHER, I am del i ght ed t o be abl e t o

i nf or m you t hat you may congr at ul at e your f i r st - bor n on

bei ng t hi s day el ect ed Fel l ow of Or i el . I have j ust pai d my

devoi r s t o t he Pr ovost and Fel l ows on t he occasi on, and

shal l be f or mal l y admi t t ed i n chapel at one o' cl ock, and

concl ude t he day wi t h t hem at di nner at si x. The r esul t

was most unexpect ed, and consequent l y t he mor e del i ght f ul

t o me. I i nt end l eavi ng t hi s on my l ong pr omi sed vi si t t o

Pr yse Gor don, Esq. , on Monday next , as I cannot do so

bef or e, havi ng var i ous pr el i mi nar y dut i es t o di schar ge : f r om

hi m I shal l t ake a hast y peep at t he Bi l st oni ans. I am vai n

enough t o bel i eve my success wi l l be t he occasi oi l ' of del i ght

t o many ot her s out of my own i mmedi at e ci r cl e of acquai nt -

ance, i n whi ch comf or t abl e sel f concei t , bei ng i n a gr eat

hur r y and havi ng pl ent y of ot her l et t er s t o wr i t e, I wi l l at

pr esent onl y subscr i be mysel f , wi t h best l ove t o al l , as your

del i ght ed and af f ect i onat e son,

" JAMES FRASER.

" Fr i day Mor ni ng, t wel ve o' cl ock. "

CHAPTER I I .

" Wher ewi t hal shal l a young man cl eanse hi s way ?

Even by r ul i ng hi msel f af t er t hy wor d. "

Ps. 119.

ORI EL, 18401848.

1840.

ON Apr i l 24t h, 1840, he was el ect ed Fel l ow of Or i el wi t h

Mr . Chr i st i e and Canon Cor ni sh. The l at t er became hi s

l i f e- l ong f r i end, and f ol l owed hi m t hi r t y year s l at er as r ect or

of Uf t on. An Or i el Fel l owshi p was i n t hose days t he bl ue

r i bbon of t he Uni ver si t y. Bal l i ol had i ndeed l at el y f ol l owed

t he l ead of Or i el i n t hi s mat t er , but besi des t hese t wo t her e

was no ot her col l ege i n Oxf or d t he Fel l owshi ps of whi ch

wer e i n t hose days open.

Those of Or i el wi t h t he except i on of f i ve had been so f or

many year s, wi t h t he r esul t t hat qui t e an unusual number of

t he most emi nent Oxoni ans of t he ear l y decades of t he

cent ur y had been, or st i l l wer e, Fel l ows or member s of t he

col l ege. Under t he gover nment of such pr ovost s and t ut or s

as Evel ei gh, Copl est one, What el y, Davi son, and t hei r col -

Page 17 of 87

l eagues, t he pi cked men of t he Uni ver si t y, Or i el had car r i ed

of f honour s i n t he school s, pr i ze poems, and essays, much

i n excess of t he pr opor t i on whi ch i t s schol ar s and under -

gr aduat es bor e t o t hose of ot her col l eges. And t hi s l ead

was not conf i ned t o t he or di nar y Uni ver si t y cur r i cul um.

CHAP. i i . ORI EL COLLEGE. 25

The Or i el common r oom was f or mor e t han a gener at i on

t he cent r e of i nt el l ect ual act i vi t y, and of r el i gi ous and

phi l osophi cal t hought and specul at i on. Ther e i s scar cel y

one of t he moder n her esi es or or t hodoxi es whi ch have

moved Engl and i n t hi s cent ur y whi ch was not ei t her bor n

or nour i shed wi t hi n i t s wal l s. Ther e What el y' s common-

sense Chr i st i ani t y, Ar nol d' s br oad r el i gi ous and l i ber al

sympat hi es, Bl anco Whi t e' s and Hampden' s specul at i ons,

had f ound voi ce ; and, i n successi on t o t hem, t he l eader s of

t he Hi gh Chur ch r evi val wer e now publ i shi ng t he Tr act s f or

t he Ti mes, and i naugur at i ng t he movement whi ch, when

Fr aser was el ect ed a Fel l ow, was st i r r i ng t he col l ege, t he

Uni ver si t y, and t he Chur ch t o t hei r i nmost dept hs.

Kebl e had i ndeed r esi gned hi s Fel l owshi p f or some year s,

but hi s i nf l uence was st r ong wi t h hi s successor s. Hur r el l

Fr oude was l at el y dead ; but Newman, t hough r esi di ng at

Li t t l emor e ( a chapel r y at t ached t o St . Mar y' s) , st i l l hel d hi s

Fel l owshi p, and was of t en i n t he common r oom ; whi l e of

younger men t he l at e Char l es Mar r i ot t and t he pr esent Dean

of St . Paul ' s wer e t ut or s of t he col l ege, and amongst t he

most zeal ous and i nf l uent i al of t he new school . A man of

wi de sympat hi es, and t he power of gui di ng and r ul i ng ot her s,

whi ch so of t en spr i ngs f r om wi de sympat hi es, mi ght have

t ur ned such mat er i al s t o t he best account , and have used t he

except i onal zeal and t al ent s of t he st af f f r om whom he had

t o sel ect f or t he mai nt enance of t he hi gh char act er and

t r adi t i ons of t he col l ege ; but such a man i n t hose year s was

not f or t hcomi ng. Dr . Hawki ns, t he Pr ovost , was a f i ne

schol ar and a hi gh- br ed gent l eman ; but col d of t emper a-

ment , and st i f f and punct i l i ous i n manner s ; a hi gh and dr y

chur chman of t he ol d school , ver y met hodi cal , ver y conser -

vat i ve, who l ooked even on hi s ol d f r i end Ar nol d wi t h some

mi sgi vi ng, and was ent i r el y out of sympat hy wi t h t hose who

2 6 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

wer e now t ur ni ng t he academi cal and r el i gi ous wor l d upsi de

down. Be t he r eason what i t may, t he bat t l e whi ch was

r agi ng i n t he Chur ch and Uni ver si t y r ound Tr act XC. i n-

t er est ed Er ovost and Fel l ows f ar mor e deepl y t han t he

or di nar y r out i ne wor k of t he col l ege, and t hat wor k suf f er ed

accor di ngl y. The ol d t r adi t i on, whi ch had obt ai ned even

amongst t he under gr aduat es of Or i el who wer e cont ent wi t h

t he pass school s t hat t he cul t i vat i on of t he i nt el l ect was

at l east one mai n obj ect of l i f e at t he Uni ver si t y st i l l

l i nger ed i n t he col l ege, but onl y as a t r adi t i on. Wi t h t he

except i on of Chr i st Chur ch, t her e was at t hi s j unct ur e

pr obabl y no col l ege i n Oxf or d l ess addi ct ed t o r eadi ng f or

t he school s, or i ndeed t o i nt el l ect ual wor k of any ki nd.

The under gr aduat es i n r esi dence i n t hese year s ( 1840- 47)

wer e sel dom above f i f t y i n number , and of t hese an aver age

of mor e t han one i n t en wer e gent l emen commoner s, who,

Page 18 of 87

i n consi der at i on of t he payment of doubl e f ees and bat t el

bi l l s, wer e ar r ayed i n si l k gowns and vel vet caps ( wi t h gol d

t assel s i n t he case of peer s' sons) , di ned at t he Fel l ows' t abl e,

and enj oyed consi der abl e i mmuni t y as r egar ds l ect ur es.

These young gent l emen as a r ul e dr essed gor geousl y ;

hunt ed i n t he t wo wi nt er t er ms ; and, i n t he summer , dr ove

t andem, f r equent ed t he Bul l i ngdon and I si s Cl ubs, and t he

not ver y r espect abl e pr emi ses of Mi l ky Bi l l , t he dog f anci er ,

wher e t hei r bul l t er r i er s dr ew badger s, and t hey shot pi geons.

Wi t h t hem nat ur al l y consor t ed t he one or t wo r i ch men

amongst t he commoner s. At t he ot her end of t he scal e

wer e t he schol ar s, sel dom mor e t han f our i n number , t he

col l ege endowment s f or t hat cl ass bei ng smal l , wi t h whom

consor t ed t he one or t wo st udi ous men.

The r emai ni ng t hr ee- f our t hs wer e ent i r el y gi ven over t o

at hl et i cs ; and, as r egar ds t hi s i mpor t ant depar t ment of

educat i on, no accompl i shed young Ar i st ot el i an coul d have

CHAP. I I . CONDI TI ON OF THE COLLEGE. 27

j oi ned a mor e di st i ngui shed school . I n t he year i n whi ch

Fr aser became f ul l Fel l ow t he Or i el boat went t o t he head

of t he r i ver , and cont ai ned t wo st r oke- oar and No. 5 of

t he f amous Uni ver si t y cr ew whi ch i n t he f ol l owi ng year won

t he Henl ey Chal l enge Cup wi t h seven oar s. Ther e wer e

t wo t or pi ds, bot h wel l pl aced i n t hei r r espect i ve di vi si ons.

The el even pl ayed col l eges t wi ce t he si ze of Or i el , and won

t hr ee mat ches out of f our . I nt er - col l egi at e f oot bal l mat ches

had not yet been st ar t ed, but sever al of t he best pl ayer s i n

Oxf or d wer e al so of Or i el . But , above al l , t he col l ege was

t he accept ed home of t he nobl e sci ence of sel f - def ence i n t he

Uni ver si t y. I t al most suppor t ed a r et i r ed pr i ze- f i ght er , who

had been known i n t he r i ng as " t he Fl yi ng Tai l or " ( a f i r st -

r at e t eacher of boxi ng, however moder at e hi s sar t or i al t al ent s

mi ght have been) , and cor di al l y wel comed any st r ay pugi l i st

who mi ght be t r ai ni ng i n t he nei ghbour hood and was i n need

of a pound or t wo. Ther e wer e r egul ar meet i ngs i n some of t he

l ar gest r ooms t wo or t hr ee t i mes a week, at whi ch out - col l ege

men, of al l wei ght s f r om ei ght st one upwar ds, mi ght f i nd

sui t abl e mat ches ; and occasi onal publ i c gat her i ngs at t he

Wei r s, or Wheat Sheaf , pr omot ed by Or i el men f or t he

benef i t of one or ot her of t hese pr of essi onal s. I n shor t ,

at hl et i cs wer e accept ed as t he mai n obj ect of r esi dence at

t he Uni ver si t y, and t he ot her br anches of a pol i t e educat i on

l ooked upon as subor di nat e and i nf er i or .

Upon al l t he pur sui t s whi ch t hus absor bed t he ener gi es of

t hei r pupi l s, Pr ovost , Dean, and t ut or s l ooked, not onl y

wi t hout sympat hy, but wi t h scar cel y vei l ed di sl i ke. No sub-

scr i pt i ons, however smal l , ever came t o boat cl ub or cr i cket

cl ub f r om any of t hem ; nor was any one of t hem ever seen

on t he r i ver bank at t he r aces, or on Cowl ey Mar sh at

a cr i cket mat ch. Leave t o di ne i n t he mi ddl e of t he day

dur i ng t he r aces was onl y gr ant ed t o t he r aci ng cr ew af t er

2 8 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PARTI .

f r equent appl i cat i ons, and at l ast gr udgi ngl y. Al l t he t ut or s

wer e i n or der s, and none of t hem, so f ar as was known, had

ever used t hei r l egs except f or a mi l d const i t ut i onal , or t hei r

ar ms f or anyt hi ng beyond handl i ng edi t i ons of t he cl assi cs

and t he f at her s, and wr i t i ng el egant pr ose or ver se i n t he

dead l anguages.

Page 19 of 87

I nt o a soci et y so di sor gani zed and unsympat het i c, t he

young I r el and schol ar and f i r st - cl ass man was pl unged at t he

ear l y age of t went y- one. At t he end of hi s year of pr obat i on

he was appoi nt ed r eader of ser mon not es, and ver y soon

af t er war ds col l ege t ut or . He came f r om a smal l and un-

popul ar col l ege, whi ch had not at t hat t i me even a boat on

t he r i ver . I t was not known t hat he had ever pul l ed an

oar , or pl ayed i n a cr i cket mat ch ; as i ndeed ver y l i kel y he

never had si nce he l ef t Shr ewsbur y, havi ng dur i ng hi s under -

gr aduat e year s been absor bed i n t he har der and nobl er wor k

of secur i ng hi s own i ndependence, and a posi t i on i n whi ch

he mi ght hel p hi s mot her i nst ead of bei ng a dr ag upon her .

Had t hi s been known t her e was manl i ness and good f eel i ng

enough amongst t he Or i el at hl et es t o have made hi s r ecept i on

a ver y di f f er ent one.

As i t was, t he ver di ct of t he maj or i t y was at f i r st deci dedl y

unf avour abl e. The capt ai ns of t he boat and t he el even, and

t he best boxer s i n t he col l ege, l ooki ng at t he f i ne set t i ng on

of hi s head, t he br eadt h of hi s shoul der s, and t he spl endi d

muscul ar devel opment of l oi n and l i mb, shook t hei r heads

r epr oachf ul l y. Some mor al del i nquency i t was f el t must be

i nvol ved i n t he negl ect of such nat ur al gi f t s. Tr ue, he had

been/ ar t / ? pr i nceps f or t he I r el and ; but , i f he had onl y used

hi s t al ent s consci ent i ousl y, a man of hi s bui l d mi ght no

doubt have br ought " t he Di amond Scul l s " ( t he bl ue r i bbon

of oar smen of t hose days) f r om Henl ey t o Oxf or d, and st i l l

have won t hat schol ar shi p. You don' t want t o be f aci l e

CHAP. i i . DRESS AT ORI EL. 29

pr i nceps. I f your nose i s si x i nches i n f r ont at t he wi nni ng

post i t i s as good as a whol e boat ' s l engt h. Besi des, was he

not a r egul ar dandy ?

Thi s l ast cr i t i ci sm had a cer t ai n amount of f oundat i on i n

f act . The j uni or Fel l ow was beyond al l quest i on t he best

dr essed man i n col l ege. Not but what Or i el cont ai ned mor e

t han a spr i nkl i ng of dr essy men, par t i cul ar l y amongst t he

gent l emen commoner s. But t hey wer e of t he or nat e t ype

of t hose days, wi t h magni f i cent pl ush wai st coat s, and

t r ouser s of al ar mi ng pat t er n and audaci ous cut . Fr aser was

al ways as neat as i f he had j ust st epped out of a bandbox.

He habi t ual l y wor e a bl ue f r ock coat of per f ect cut , wi t h

vel vet col l ar ; and wai st coat and t r ouser s of l i ght col our s

not excl udi ng even buf f and l avender equal l y wel l made.

Pr obabl y he t hought as l i t t l e of hi s cl ot hes t hen as i n hi s l at er

year s ; but i t was hi s pr i nci pl e t hr ough l i f e t o have none but

t he best t hi ngs f r om t he best t r adesmen, and hi s i nst i nct t o

put what ever he had t o t he ver y best use i t was capabl e of .

Then he had a f i ne whi t e ski n, whi ch f l ushed l i ke a gi r l ' s i n

answer t o any emot i on, and r oused some suspi ci on, i f not

cont empt , i n t he mi nds of young gent l emen who had a sor t

of pr i de i n bei ng t anned, by const ant exposur e t o sun and

wi nd, unt i l bl ushi ng had become i mpossi bl e t o t hem. Ther e

was a sl i ght r eact i on i n hi s f avour when t he hunt i ng men

r epor t ed t hat he owned one of t he best hacks whi ch st ood at

Si mmonds' s, and, whenever t he ol d Ber kshi r e met wi t hi n

r each of Oxf or d, was i n t he habi t of t aki ng hi s r i de i n

t hat di r ect i on. On t he whol e, however , t her e was a de-

ci ded pr ej udi ce agai nst hi m when he opened hi s l ect ur e

r oom.

Nor di d hi s ear l y l ect ur es pr oduce a f avour abl e i mpr essi on.

He was shy and embar r assed, of t en bl ushed when a quest i on

Page 20 of 87

was asked, and f ound gr eat di f f i cul t y i n comi ng down t o t he

LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

aver age l evel of hi s pupi l s. An ear l y i nci dent of an unusual

ki nd even i n t hose days undoubt edl y di d somet hi ng t o

r emove t he pr ej udi ce of t he maj or i t y. I n or der t o get

r ooms bi g enough t o accommodat e hi s cl asses comf or t abl y, he

had t aken a f i r st - f l oor set on t he sout h- west st ai r case of t he

out er quadr angl e, gener al l y i nhabi t ed by a gent l eman com-

moner . The pr esence of a t ut or on t hei r st ai r case was by

no means agr eeabl e t o t hese young per sons, and one of t hem

r esol ved t o br i ng t hi s home t o t he mi nd of t he i nt r uder , and

pr oceeded t o car r y out hi s i nt ent i on i n t he most i l l - br ed and

of f ensi ve manner he coul d t hi nk of . He was i n t he l ect ur e

on Her odot us, t he l ar gest whi ch Fr aser had ; and, sel ect i ng

a cr owded day, wal ked i nt o t he r oom amongst t he l ast

ar r i val s, i n a si l k- l i ned smoki ng j acket under hi s nobl eman' s

gown, and br i ght col our ed sl i pper s on hi s f eet . Thus cl ot hed

he sank i nt o a cor ner of t he sof a. Ther e was a cur i ous

pause t o see how Fr aser woul d t ake i t . Hi s f ace f l ushed

scar l et ; but , af t er l ooki ng f or a moment or t wo st eadi l y at

t he i nt r uder , whose eyes wer e as st eadi l y aver t ed and f i xed

on hi s Her odot us, he pr oceeded wi t h hi s l ect ur e, qui et l y

i gnor i ng t he pr esence of t he nobl e mount ebank, and

" j umpi ng" hi m when i t came t o hi s t ur n t o const r ue.

" Why di dn' t he pi t ch hi m out neck and heel s ? " " Woul dn' t

I have done i t f or hi m wi t h a wi l l i f he had gi ven t he hi nt ! "

" I t hi nk he got t he best of i t anyhow, " t he men comment ed,

as t hey scat t er ed acr oss t he quadr angl e af t er l ect ur e. But ,

on t he whol e, t he popul ar j udgment f i nal l y i ncl i ned t o

t he ver di ct t hat t he st udi ed i nsol ence of t he young ar i st o-

cr at had been best met by si mpl y i gnor i ng hi m, and t he

young t ut or r ose a di st i nct peg i n t he est i mat i on of t he

col l ege.

A much mor e i mpor t ant st ep was gai ned when he was

seen on t he bank on sever al cr i t i cal ni ght s of t he boat r aces.

CHAP. i i . TUTOR OF ORI EL. 31

r unni ng by t he si de of t he boat and cheer i ng l ust i l y. I t

was even r epor t ed t hat t he cl ub secr et ar y, t he most shor t -

si ght ed man, and most zeal ous oar , i n Oxf or d, had f or t hwi t h

sounded hi m as t o t aki ng a seat at number f i ve i n t he seni or

t or pi d, wi t h a vi ew, i f f ound compet ent , t o t aki ng t he pl ace of

t he heavi est man i n t he r aci ng boat , who was j ust goi ng i nt o

t he school s, and coul dn' t at t end pr oper l y t o hi s t r ai ni ng;

and t hat t he over t ur es, t hough unsuccessf ul , had been

r ecei ved i n a f r i endl y and sympat het i c spi r i t .

Next t er m came a r umour t hat i n t he l ong vacat i on he

had cl ubbed hor ses wi t h a f r i end and dr i ven t andem r ound

Nor t h Wal es ; a f eat r egar ded wi t h di st i nct r espect , bot h by

spor t i ng men and at hl et es. But i t was not t i l l he had been

i n har ness f or anot her t er m or t wo t hat t he ear l y pr ej udi ce

di sappear ed, and i t was on t hi s wi se. Af t er l ar ge boat i ng or

cr i cket i ng supper s, when t he usual songs had been sung and

t oast s gi ven, i t was of t en t he habi t of t he mor e st r enuous

r evel l er s t o adj our n t o t he gr ass- pl ot i n t he back quadr angl e,

Page 21 of 87

t her e t o f i ni sh t hei r symposi a wi t h l eap- f r og, j umpi ng, or

what ever hi gh- j i nks mi ght be suggest ed at t he moment .

Upon t hi s gr ass- pl ot t he wi ndows of t he Pr ovost ' s l i br ar y

l ooked out , and i t was wel l known t hat he ent er t ai ned an

unr easonabl e obj ect i on t o t hese heal t hy, t hough per haps

somewhat unt i mel y, educat i onal exer ci ses. Long exper i ence

had est abl i shed t hat when t he r ed cur t ai ns wer e suddenl y -

dr awn back and a whi t e head appear ed at t he wi ndow, i t

was t i me t o scat t er as f ast as possi bl e, because even t hough

i t mi ght be t oo dar k f or t he Pr ovost t o r ecogni ze any one

hi msel f , t he ni ght por t er mi ght now be l ooked f or at any

moment , t o t ake down names. Now amongst t he Or i el

at hl et es at t hi s t i me was a Scot chman, a schol ar of t he

col l ege, James Macki e by name ( af t er war ds M. P. f or Ki r k -

cudbr i ght shi r e) , a man of gr eat st r engt h and st at ur e. He

3 2 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

had br ought wi t h hi m f r om Rugby t he name of " t he Bear , "

f r om t he cl oseness of hi s hug i n wr est l i ng, i n whi ch i t was

bel i eved he had never been wor st ed. He was one of t he

par t y at a par t i cul ar l y f est i ve supper , t o cel ebr at e t he br i ng-

i ng home of t he London and Henl ey chal l enge cups t o

Or i el , whi ch had adj our ned t o t he gr ass- pl ot , when t he usual

war ni ng si gnal was seen at t he Pr ovost ' s wi ndow. Macki e

made of f at once f or hi s r ooms, and, t he ni ght bei ng dar k, at

t he ent r ance of t he passage bet ween t he t wo quadr angl es,

r an r i ght up agai nst some one whom he t ook f or t he under

por t er . Whi ch of t he t wo gr appl ed t he ot her was never

accur at el y known, but t he col l i si on r esul t ed i n a spi r i t ed

wr est l i ng bout bet ween t hem; and " t he Bear " admi t t ed

t hat i t was al l he coul d do t o get r i d of hi s opponent , who

af t er al l was onl y l ef t on hand and knee, no " f ai r f al l "

havi ng been scor ed on ei t her si de. But t he t ussl e had l ast ed

l ong enough f or Macki e t o have r ecogni zed hi s adver sar y,

and no doubt t he r ecogni t i on had been mut ual : and gr ave

wer e t he f ear s of t hose i n t he secr et f or some days whet her

an unt i mel y end mi ght not be put t o t he car eer of t he

schol ar , and so a vacancy har d t o f i l l be cr eat ed at number

f our i n t he col l ege boat . But not hi ng happened : and so

Fr aser who had been peaceabl y on hi s way t o t he l i br ar y

f or a book got t he cr edi t , not onl y of havi ng hel d hi s own

wi t h t he best wr est l er i n col l ege, but of havi ng kept t he

whol e af f ai r qui et l y t o hi msel f , knowi ng t hat t he col l i si on

was an acci dent . Fr om t hat t i me he was spoken of as

" Jemmy, " and at t ai ned t o t he equi val ent of " t he most

f avour ed nat i on cl ause" i n t he under gr aduat es' t ut or i al

code.

As t ut or , however , he made no speci al mar k i n t he

col l ege, never havi ng at t ai ned anyt hi ng appr oachi ng t o t he

i nf l uence wi t h hi s pupi l s, or t he success i n t he school s, of

CHAP. i i . ORI EL COMMON ROOM. 33

such educat or s as Mi chel l or Jowet t , Gol dwi n Smi t h or

St anl ey.

I t i s di f f i cul t t o account f or t hi s except on t he gr ound of

t he gr eat shyness whi ch cer t ai nl y embar r assed hi s r el at i ons

wi t h t he men who at t ended hi s col l ege l ect ur es, and pr obabl y

i nf l uenced t hose mor e i nt i mat e ones wi t h hi s own pupi l s.

One of t hese, Mr . Par k Di ckens, a f i r st - cl ass man i n 1846,

t akes t hi s vi ew, sayi ng t hat i n hi s own case he got mor e

Page 22 of 87

good f r om Fr aser i n hi s l ast t al k wi t h hi m, when he was

goi ng out of col l ege, a f ew mont hs bef or e hi s f i nal exami na-

t i on, t han i n al l t hei r pr evi ous i nt er cour se ; and t hat what he

di d get t hen i n t he shape of advi ce as t o hi s r eadi ng was of

gr eat val ue.

Of hi s car eer i n t he common r oom t he t est i mony of such

of hi s col l eagues as st i l l sur vi ve bear s out t he gener al i mpr es -

si on, t hat i t gave l i t t l e pr omi se of t he ver y f r ui t f ul and r e-

mar kabl e char act er whi ch he devel oped af t envar ds. I n t he

el ect i ons whi ch f ol l owed hi s own, Ar t hur Cl ough, and G.

Buckl e ( now pr ebendar y of Wel l s and r ect or of West on-

super - Mar e) , and Mat t hew Ar nol d wer e successf ul , and

br ought qui t e new el ement s i nt o t he l i f e of t he common

r oom. The t wo f or mer became hi s col l eagues as col l ege

t ut or s, and r emai ned so dur i ng t he r est of hi s r esi dence i n

col l ege. For t he l ast t hr ee year s, f r om Januar y, 1844, he

was al so sub- dean and l i br ar i an.

" Of cour se we wer e much t oget her i n t he way of busi -

ness, " wr i t es Mr . Buckl e, " maki ng out t he l ect ur e l i st and

di scussi ng t he qual i t i es and doi ngs of our pupi l s. But we

never got ver y cl ose ment al l y i n t hose days my cl oser

i nt i macy wi t h hi m came at a l at er dat e. He di d not t hen

seem t o car e f or t he t heol ogi cal and phi l osophi cal t opi cs

whi ch engr ossed t he r est of us. We r egar ded hi m as t he

D

34 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

f i ni shed schol ar and cheer y compani on, and har dl y t hought

of hi m i n any ot her l i ght . Per haps, t oo, he was a l i t t l e

separ at ed f r om us by bei ng mor e accept abl e t o t he el der set ,

wi t h whom we j uni or s i n t hose days f el t a l i t t l e out of har -

mony. The Pr ovost pai d hi m t he ver y unusual compl i ment

of aski ng hi m t o j oi n a Cl ub of Heads of Houses, and ot her

gr eat dons, who di ned t oget her once a week. Er aser ' s soci al

qual i t i es wer e al ways hi gh. " And agai n, r ef er r i ng t o t he r e-

mar kabl e mi xt ur e of men i n t he Or i el common r oom i n t hose

year s, " I r emember no si ngl e i nst ance of a cl ash bet ween

t hem. We al l got on excel l ent l y t oget her , but I t hi nk our

i nt er cour se wi t h Fr aser never went much bel ow t he sur f ace. "

" Fr aser r at her r epr esent ed t he hi gh- and- dr y Chur ch i n com-

mon r oom, " wr i t es M. Ar nol d, " wi t h an admi xt ur e of t he

wor l d so f ar at l east as pl easur e i n r i di ng and spor t may

be cal l ed wor l dl y ; of t he ascet i c and specul at i ve si de,

not hi ng. "

" My r ecol l ect i on of hi m, " wr i t es Dr . Chase, now Pr i nci -

pal of St . Mar y' s Hal l , " i s of a geni al compani on ; and

I f el t , when he l ef t , t hat t he cor ner st one was t aken out

of t he Or i el common r oom, and no subst i t ut e was ever

f ound. "

I wi l l add one ot her wi t ness, an ol d f r i end and cont em-

por ar y, not an Or i el man, as t o t hese year s of hi s r esi dence

at Oxf or d : " We al l used t o have t he gr eat est pl easur e i n

hi s j oyous soci et y, " wr i t es T. Lonsdal e, son of t he l at e

Bi shop of Li chf i el d, " and wel l can t hose who ar e l ef t r e-

member hi s br i ght f ace and hear t y manner hi s good t emper

and l oveabl e di sposi t i on. One of hi s ol dest f r i ends used t o

say t hat an ut t er want of af f ect at i on was hi s di st i ngui shi ng

char act er i st i c ; anot her , t hat i t was ' l oveabl eness ; ' anot her ,

Page 23 of 87

CHAP. i i . SUB- DEAN OF ORI EL. 35

' t r anspar ent si ncer i t y. ' He was i ndeed ' pel l uci di or vi t r o. '

I t st r uck me t hat al l he di d was done wi t h wonder f ul ease,

as i f i t al l came t o hi m by i nst i nct r at her t han ef f or t , whi l e

doi ng i t he al ways seemed so happy, and r eady t o t ur n t o

ot her t hi ngs. "

As may r eadi l y be supposed, t he f ami l y at Bi l st on wer e

not a l i t t l e pr oud of t he success of t hei r young r el at i ve, and

by no means aver se t o t he r ef l ect ed cr edi t whi ch hi s acade-

mi cal honour s shed on t he home ci r cl e, i n t hei r qui et l i t t l e

count r y t own and nei ghbour hood. Mr . Wi l l i m, t he sol i ci t or ,

and now t he head of t he f ami l y, was i n t he habi t of com-

muni cat i ng t hese t hi ngs t o t he l ocal paper , not , i t must be

conf essed, wi t hout some conni vance on t he par t of hi s

si st er . Hi s nephew, who al ways wi nced under t hese wel l -

meant eul ogi a, was at l ast r oused t o open r emonst r ance

by an unusual l y gr andi l oquent par agr aph on hi s becomi ng

censor of Or i el .

1844.

To Mr s. Fr aser . Feb. i ot / 1, 1844. " What a nui sance t hat

Uncl e John has a mani a f or spr eadi ng t hat puf f f ar and wi de !

To compl et e t he t hi ng he shoul d send i t t o t he Oxf or d

Her al d and t he Ti mes ! I t hi nk t hat woul d dr i ve me mad

' i nt i r el y ! ' What sat i sf act i on t her e can be t o anybody' s f eel -

i ngs t o r ead a puf f i ng par agr aph wr i t t en by t hemsel ves, or

one of t hemsel ves, or of t hemsel ves, I cannot f or t he l i f e

of me i magi ne but pl ease don' t send my l et t er s, t hi s or t he

f or mer one, on t o Bi l st on, as I am sur e my uncl e woul d be

hur t at i t , and t hat i s t he l ast t hi ng t hat I shoul d desi r e. I

shal l however wr i t e a qui et er l et t er t o hi m mysel f , l est he

shoul d be t empt ed t o send a copy of t he same t o t he Oxf or d

paper . I do admi r e t hat yout hf ul ' Jehu ' of a br ot her of

D 2

36 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART : .

mi ne, r i ski ng hi s pr eci ous neck and spendi ng hi s pr eci ous

' t i n ' wi t h such a har um- scar um compani on i n a buggy ! I t

woul d do hi m mor e good, and ( I shoul d t hi nk) cost hi m l ess

money, t o t ake a good r i de. Thi nk of t he di f f er ence i n t he

pi kes ! My ol d f r i end Sal e i s comi ng up t o t ake hi s M. A.

degr ee next week, but he i s so ver y connubi al t hat he won' t

st ay a si ngl e day amongst us, but r et ur ns t o t own, wher e he

i s t aki ng a f or t ni ght ' s hol i day, t he same ni ght . I am ver y

angr y at t hi s way of t r eat i ng ol d f r i ends, whet her per sons

or pl aces. I made my debut i n my new col l ege of f i ce yes -

t er day i n pr esent i ng a member of my col l ege t o t he Vi ce-

Chancel l or and Pr oct or f or hi s degr ee. You may per haps

have a chance of wi t nessi ng my per f or mance of my dut y i n

t he summer . At pr esent a ver bal descr i pt i on of t he pr ocess

woul d, I f ear , be uni nt el l i gi bl e t o you ; nor do I know, as

t he whol e i s t r ansact ed i n Lat i n, t hat a si ght of i t wi l l make

i t much cl ear er . "

Pr obabl y, however , t he best pi ct ur e of hi s l i f e dur i ng

t hese year s may be gat her ed f r om one of hi s l ong j our nal

l et t er s t o hi s mot her , whi ch he was i n t he habi t of wr i t i ng

r egul ar l y whenever absent f r om her .

Page 24 of 87

" Apr i l i j t / t , 1844.

" ORI EL COLLEGE, OXFORD.

" MY DEAREST MOTHER, I came back f r om t own l ast

ni ght t o be i n r eadi ness f or a busy day. I n my capaci t y of

Sub- Dean, I have al r eady of f i ci at ed i n t he pr esent at i on of

t hr ee member s of t hi s col l ege f or t hei r M. A. degr ee : and

at one o' cl ock I am t o par t ake of a gr and l uncheon gi ven

by t he Pr oct or El ect of t hi s col l ege, who ent er s upon t he

dut i es of hi s of f i ce on t hi s, t he f i r st day of t er m, and whom,

af t er hi s l unch, al l t he r esi dent member s of t he col l ege wi l l

CHAP. i i . VACATI ON RAMBLES. 37

accompany i n f or mal pr ocessi on t o t he Convocat i on House,

t her e t o see hi m swor n i n and admi t t ed t o hi s of f i ce by t he

Vi ce- Chancel l or , and t he choi ce of t he col l ege appr oved

and conf i r med by t he voi ce of Convocat i on. I shal l t hen

have a coupl e of i dl e days bef or e t he busi ness of t er m

r ecommences.

" I r eal l y had not t i me whi l e i n t own t o acknowl edge t he

r ecei pt of t he i nt er est i ng packet cont ai ni ng dear Edwar d' s

l ast l et t er , whi ch by t hi s t i me ought t o have f ound i t s way

i nt o ever y hand t hat i s pr i vi l eged or ent i t l ed t o r ecei ve i t ,

and per haps has even come back t o you agai n. I wi l l

make at pr esent no f ur t her comment upon i t t han mer el y t o

r emar k t hat your ant i ci pat i ons of t he pl easur e wi t h whi ch I

shoul d per use i t wer e mor e t han r eal i sed. And now, I

suppose, you wi l l expect an account of my r ecent pr oceed-

i ngs whi ch, f or t he sake of cl ear ness and conveni ence, I had

bet t er t hr ow i nt o t he shape of a di ar y.

Monday, Apr i l ^ t h. " St ar t ed f r om Oxf or d a quar t er

bef or e ei ght , and had a pl easant r i de t o London, ar r i vi ng

t her e at hal f - past el even. Made t he best of my way f r om

Paddi ngt on t o Bl ackwal l Rai l way, and t hence t o t he Br uns -

wi ck Whar f , wher e I f ound a st eamer i n r eadi ness t o convey

me t o Gr avesend, at whi ch pl ace 1^ ar r i ved about hal f - past

t hr ee. For t hwi t h mount ed a ' bus, and was set down at

Al ex' s r oom i n Br ompt on Bar r acks at a quar t er bef or e f i ve.

The her o was out hi msel f , havi ng, as I subsequent l y f ound,

i a company wi t h f i ve ot her s of hi s messmat es, gone up t he

r i ver about f i f t een mi l es, wi t h some l adi es, t o whom t hese

gal l ant sons of Mar s gave a f et e champet r e on t he gr een and

sunny banks of t he Medway. He di d not get back t i l l

near l y ei ght o' cl ock. I consol ed mysel f dur i ng hi s absence,

by st r ol l i ng out on t o " The Li nes, " wher e I was j ust i n t i me

38 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

t o see t he f ag- end of a r evi ew of about 2, 500 I nf ant r y, who

had been manoeuvr i ng t her e ever si nce t wo o' cl ock. I t was

a spect acl e wi t h whi ch I was much gr at i f i ed, as I do not

t hi nk I had ever seen so many t r oops massed t oget her

bef or e. I al so l i oni sed t he t own and nei ghbour hood of

Chat ham. Upon Al ex' s r et ur n, I di ned wi t h hi m and some

hal f - dozen of hi s comr ades, who wer e al so t oo l at e f or mess,

i n what t hey cal l " t he ant e- r oom " a ki nd of second

edi t i on, or r echauf f e or r i f aci ment o ( t o spor t my Fr ench and

I t al i an) of t he mess di nner , and spent a ver y agr eeabl e

eveni ng. I was di sappoi nt ed i n Al ex' s r ooms but , f r om

hi s descr i pt i on of t hem, I had compar ed t hem i n my i magi -

Page 25 of 87

nat i on wi t h a set of col l ege apar t ment s, i nst ead of whi ch

t her e i s onl y one r oom, hi s bed bei ng mer el y separ at ed by a

scr een f r om t he r est of t he apar t ment , and hi s washi ng-

st and, dr essi ng- t abl e, &c. , &c. , st andi ng out i n bol d r el i ef ,

and scor ni ng conceal ment . However , t he r oom i s l ar ge

and ai r y and I coul d make mysel f ver y comf or t abl e t her e

I onl y say I had expect ed t o f i nd a sui t e of r ooms, and not

a si ngl e sol i t ar y apar t ment .

" On Tuesday Al exander got l eave of absence f or t he day,

and we st ar t ed f or t he Cat hedr al , wher e we at t ended t he

ser vi ce, and i t i s an i nt er est i ng edi f i ce, especi al l y t he ol d

Nor man par t . I t i s consi der abl y spoi l t , however , by some

moder n addi t i ons of a t ower and wi ndows. You know our

Pr ovost i s ex- of f i ci o a pr ebendar y of Rochest er . The ser vi ce

t her e i s not t o be compar ed wi t h t he st yl e of t hat at Exet er

t he mi nor canon r eads, i nst ead of chant i ng whi ch mar s

t he ef f ect . ' Af t er l i oni si ng t he Cat hedr al , I dr ew Al exander

on t o Cobham Hal l and par k, t he magni f i cent ol d bar oni al

seat of t he Ear l of Dar nl ey, of t he ver y exi st ence of whi ch

Mast er Al exander was bef or e i gnor ant . Thi s was about f i ve

CHAP. i i . VACATI ON RAMBLES. 39

mi l es f r om Chat ham : so t hat , as we wal ked t her e and back

and t he day was ver y hot , you may suppose we had suf f i ci ent

exer ci se. We wer e however bot h r ewar ded f or our exer t i ons ;

t hough we coul d not see t he i nt er i or of t he house, whi ch i s

onl y shown on a Fr i day, and i n whi ch, I under st and, t her e

ar e some ver y f i ne pi ct ur es. We saw a ver y cur i ous ant i que

st at e car r i age, about t he dat e of James, or El i zabet h.

Al exander st at ed hi s i nt ent i on of l i oni si ng t he i nt er i or on

some f ut ur e occasi on. Thi s day we di ned at mess, wher e

cer t ai nl y t hose young f el l ows do l i ve l uxur i ousl y : and i t i s

no wonder t hey get di ssat i sf i ed wi t h homel y f ar e and f ami l y

di nner s. As I had never di ned at mess bef or e, I was ver y

much gr at i f i ed and i nt er est ed wi t h t he spect acl e i t pr esent s.

I l ef t Chat ham on t he Wednesday mor ni ng at t wel ve o' cl ock

bot h f i ndi ng and l eavi ng Al exander i n appar ent l y t he best

heal t h, spi r i t s, and enj oyment , and I hope wor ki ng har d.

He seems anxi ous t o l eave as soon as possi bl e and i ndeed

I shoul d t hi nk t he monot ony of t he pl ace must get somewhat

wear i some. Of cour se he has wr i t t en t o you bef or e t hi s

about t he mi st ake we al l made i n r eadi ng Pl yi ng Lass f or

Fl yi ng Sap. But al t hough he sai d he t ook par t i cul ar pai ns

t o wr i t e t he wor d pl ai nl y, I assur ed hi m, t hat t o our un-

sci ent i f i c heads and eyes, who di d not know t he t echni cal

exi st ence of t he l at t er t er m, Fl yi ng Lass was t he obvi ous

r eadi ng of t he wr i t i ng t hat he t hought was so pl ai n as t o

pr ecl ude t he possi bi l i t y of mi st ake. I r et ur ned t o t own by

t he same r out e by whi ch I had come down and got t o 22,

Cr aven St r eet , St r and ( wher e I f ound mysel f ext r emel y

comf or t abl e) by f our o' cl ock and af t er a f ew moment s'

at t ent i on t o my ' t oi l et t e ' sal l i ed f or t h t o see what was t o be

seen and, as my f i r st si ght , f ound mysel f l ooki ng i n upon

t he Amer i can dwar f , l i t t l e Tom Thumb, whose di mi nut i ve-

ness sur passes my power s of descr i pt i on, and who i s cer t ai nl y

4 o LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

t he most r i di cul ousl y t i ny ani mal I ever saw or concei ved.

Whi l e her e, one of t he Oj i bbeway I ndi ans came i n f r om an

adj oi ni ng Exhi bi t i on- r oom i n t he Egypt i an Hal l , and I

sat i sf i ed my cur i osi t y on t hat scor e by gi vi ng hi m a good l ook

Page 26 of 87

over , wi t hout t hi nki ng i t necessar y af t er war ds t o pay anot her

shi l l i ng t o see t he whol e ' qui nt et t e. ' I f or get how I spent

t he r est of t he eveni ng : but I t hi nk i t was t hi s day t hat I

went t o t he Adel ai de Gal l er y, wher e I coul d see not hi ng i n-

t er est i ng except a pai r of el ect r i cal eel s. I di d not however

t r y t he ef f ect s of a shock.

" On Thur sday I r ambl ed t hr ough t he Nat i onal Gal l er y

( my f avour i t e pl ace of r esor t ) and t he Br i t i sh Museum ;

made sundr y cal l s on f r i ends i n t he Templ e ( ol d Nor man

among t he number ) and Li ncol n' s I nn, and i n t he eveni ng

went t o t he oper a, wher e I was much pl eased. We had Don

Pasqual e, a capi t al oper a buf f a, i n whi ch I hear d Gr i si ,

Labl ache, For nasar i , and Cor el l i . Then t he l ast scene of

t he Cener ent ol a, wher e I hear d t he new/ n' / / / donna, Mdl l e.

Favant i , onl y her second appear ance i n Engl and, of whi ch

count r y she i s a nat i ve, her t r ue name bei ng Mi ss Edwar ds.

She i s a ver y f i ne woman of about t went y - ei ght , and has a

mezzo- cont r al t o voi ce of gr eat power , but I t hought a l i t t l e

def i ci ent i n sweet ness. Then came t he new f ashi onabl e

dance, ' The Pol ka, ' danced f or t he f i r st t i me i n t hi s count r y

by Car l ot t a Gr i si and M. Per r ot , a pas de deux bet ween

Mdl l e. Loui se and M. Mont assa, t o concl ude wi t h t he bal l et

La Esmer al da, t he scener y of whi ch was magni f i cent , but I

don' t car e a r ush f or t he danci ng. I di d not t hi nk ver y

much of t he pol ka, and I don' t t hi nk i t possi bl e t hat , as a

whol e, i t can be i nt r oduced i n pr i vat e par t i es, except as a pas

de deux, t hough t her e i s a por t i on of i t , a ki nd of modi f i cat i on

of t he wal t z, pr oduced by t he gent l eman and t he l ady al t er -

CHAP. i i . VACATI ON RAMBLES. 41

nat el y changi ng si des, whi ch may be pr act i cabl e as a gener al

dance.

" On Fr i day, I went wi t h a f r i end t o Hampt on Cour t , but

f ound t o our di sgust t hat we coul d not see t he i nt er i or , as

t hat was t he onl y day i n t he week on whi ch i t i s not shown,

so I mi ssed t he car t oons, t hough I shal l cer t ai nl y go agai n.

I was ver y much pl eased wi t h t he ext er i or and t he gar dens.

We wal ked back, t hr ough Bushey Par k and Twi ckenham, t o

Ri chmond a beaut i f ul wal k i ndeed and t hence r et ur ned

t o t own by ' bus. I shoul d have pr ef er r ed a st eam down t he

r i ver , but t her e was no boat t i l l hal f - past f i ve, and I was

engaged t o di ne wi t h a f r i end who i s cur at e of Tr i ni t y

Chur ch, Mar yl ebone, at t hat hour , wher e I spent a ver y

pl easant eveni ng i n t he soci et y of some ol d school and

col l ege f r i ends.

" Sat ur day. Spent t he whol e of t hi s mor ni ng most un-

sat i sf act or i l y i n hunt i ng af t er Mr s. Ni chol l s, who seems f ond

of changi ng t he pl ace of her abode. Af t er havi ng f ound out ,

wi t h some di f f i cul t y and much wear y seeki ng, 2, Radnor

Pl ace, Gl oucest er Squar e, I f ound she had l ef t t hat f or 34,

Sussex Gar dens. Thi t her I r epai r ed accor di ngl y, and t hen

f ound t hat she had l ef t f or Chel t enham about a f or t ni ght

ago, and woul d not r et ur n t i l l May, so I had al l my j our ney -

i ngs f or not hi ng. The af t er noon I spent i n r ambl i ng about

t o t he par k, some of t he cl ubs, a sal e of pi ct ur es at Chr i st i e

and Manson' s, &c. , &c. I n t he eveni ng I went t o t he

Haymar ket , wher e I was much amused ; i n f act , you al ways

get mor e t o make you l augh t her e t han at any ot her t heat r e

i n London, and I never was mor e el ect r i f i ed i n my l i f e t han

by wi t nessi ng t he gymnast i c per f or mances and post ur es of a

cer t ai n Mr . Ri sl ey and hi s son ' l e pet i t Mer cur e?

Page 27 of 87

42 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

" Sunday. Br eakf ast ed at ni ne wi t h Nor man, went wi t h

hi m t o t he Templ e Chur ch ; t hen wander ed r ound t he

Templ e Gar dens t o St . James' s Par k, t i l l i t was t i me f or

af t er noon ser vi ce, whi ch I at t ended at Whi t ehal l Chapel -

Royal , and af t er war ds di ned and spent t he eveni ng at Mr .

Sal e' s i n Sur r ey St r eet .

" Monday. Br eakf ast ed wi t h an ol d f r i end near Ber kel ey

Squar e ; went wi t h hi m t o hear t he Col dst r eam band pl ay

i n St . James' s Pal ace cour t yar d, whi ch t hey do ever y mor n-

i ng f r om hal f - past t en t o el even : a magni f i cent per f or mance.

Then pr oceeded wi t h anot her f r i end and f el l ow col l egi an t o

t he Dul wi ch pi ct ur e gal l er y, wi t h whi ch, as wel l as t he r i de

and wal k down, I was del i ght ed. The Mur i l l os and a Gui do

t her e ar e spl endi d ; t he pi ct ur es number t wi ce as many as i n

t he Nat i onal Gal l er y, amount i ng t o about 350. The eveni ng

I passed at t he Pol yt echni c I nst i t ut i on, whi ch cont ai ned some

novel t i es.

" Tuesday. Went agai n t o hear t he Col dst r eam band,

and made one or t wo cal l s. Di ned at t hr ee o' cl ock and l ef t

t own by t he f i ve o' cl ock t r ai n, j ust as t he Queen came up

f r om Wi ndsor t o hol d her dr awi ng- r oom t o- mor r ow. I saw

her cor t ege wi t h i t s escor t pass t hr ough t he par k, and had I

been t en mi nut es ear l i er I shoul d have seen her ar r i ve by

her speci al t r ai n at t he Paddi ngt on St at i on. I shoul d have

l i ked t o have st ayed t i l l Thur sday, t o have seen t he peopl e

go t o t he dr awi ng- r oom. Ther e i s anot her on t he 25t h, t o

whi ch Al ec t al ks of comi ng up, as i t i s a f ar gr ander spect acl e

t han a l evee. I t hi nk I managed pr et t y wel l , t o see ever y,

t hi ng I di d and pay al l my expenses, t r avel l i ng i ncl uded,

f or t he ni ne days f or 4! . i $s. od. I got enough f or my

money, at any r at e. But I must concl ude, f or i t i s t i me t o

CHAP. i i . VACATI ON RAMBLES. 43

get r eady f or l uncheon. I f you t hi nk i t woul d i nt er est t hem

send t hi s on t o Bi l st on, f or i t i s a bor e t o r epeat al l t hese

par t i cul ar s. I not i ced i n t he par k, I t hi nk, t hat t he l adi es'

habi t s seemed made si ngl e- br east ed, but wi t h br oad f l aps

t hr own back, and t hr ee r ows of but t ons, and some wor e a

ki nd of cr i mson vel vet or si l k pl ush wai st coat beneat h ; but

I coul d not not i ce ver y accur at el y. Hopi ng t hi s wi l l f i nd

bot h you and Br uce qui t e wel l ,

" I r emai n, my dear mot her ,

" Ver y af f ect i onat el y,

" JAMES FRASER.

" As t hi s wi l l pr obabl y meet Uncl e John' s eye l et me t el l

hi m t hat he owes me 12^ . , as hi s shar e of t he subscr i pt i on t o

t he Oxf or d Her al d f or t he cur r ent year . They have r ai sed

t he pr i ce by 4* . By t he by I had near l y f or got t en one

t hi ng t hat bi l l t hat Edwar d sent became payabl e on t he

1 3t h i nst . I wi sh you woul d i nqui r e at your bank whet her

i t has been cashed, and l et me know. As I do not want t he

money mysel f now, you can use i t i f you r equi r e i t , and pay

me agai n i n t he l ong vacat i on, and I wi l l ask you t o pay my

subscr i pt i on of t wo gui neas t o t he hospi t al , whi ch was due

at Lady Day. I f or get t he exact amount of t he bi l l , but i t

Page 28 of 87

was r at her mor e t han 26! . , I t hi nk. "

1845.

To hi s Mot her . Oct . i gf / i , 1845. " I am happy t o

say t hat I am r el i eved f r om t he dut i es of t he Col l ege

Tr easur er shi p, whi ch, t oget her wi t h i t s sal ar y of i oo/ . a

meagr e compensat i on i n my opi ni on f or i t s anxi et i es I

was af r ai d woul d have devol ved on my shoul der s. One of

t he seni or Fel l ows has come up i nt o r esi dence t o t ake i t ,

whi ch st aves of f t he evi l day f r om me f or t he next t hr ee

44 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

year s. These l at e unf or t unat e secessi ons t o t he Chur ch of

Rome event s never t o be suf f i ci ent l y depl or ed by al l wel l -

wi sher s t o t he Engl i sh Chur ch have pl aced me hi gh on

t he Fel l ows' l i st . I now st and ni nt h, havi ng r i sen hal f way

up t he l adder ( of ei ght een r ounds) si nce my el ect i on i n

1840. When a man of Mr . Newman' s sur passi ng i nt el l ect ,

and unquest i oned hol i ness, sel f - deni al and pi et y i n whi ch

r espect s I have never yet seen any man wor t hy t o be put i n

compar i son wi t h hi m ( except per haps Dr . Pusey) when a

man whose ver y pr esence even hi s si l ent pr esence cast s

a myst er i ous i nf l uence f or good on al l ar ound hi m, 1 f eel s

what he deems an i mper at i ve cal l t o l eave t hat Chur ch i n

whi ch he was bapt i sed, and of whi ch he has been a mi ni st er ,

I t hi nk t hat t hose who f eel most sat i sf i ed and conf i dent of

t hei r own posi t i on may wel l suspect t hat t her e ar e some

ser i ous def i ci enci es i n a syst em i n whi ch t he aspi r at i ons of

such a spi r i t as hi s coul d meet wi t h no cor r espondi ng voi ce,

and f i nd no sympat het i c ai d. I conf ess I cannot mysel f

under st and hi s f eel i ngs, or compr ehend t he cogency of t he

mot i ves whi ch have act uat ed hi m. I f i nd i n my own case

ver y f ew t hi ngs t hat I shoul d wi sh al t er ed i n t he l i t ur gy or

t eachi ng of our Chur ch t hough many di f f i cul t i es i n t he

pr act i cal wor ki ng of her syst em ar i si ng f r om her connect i on

wi t h t he St at e. But st i l l I f eel t hat one so f ar bel ow Mr

1 Hi s vener at i on f or Car di nal Newman never f al t er ed I n hi s

Char ge f or 1876, when he was i nsi st i ng on good r eadi ng t o t he cl er gy

of hi s di ocese, he says, " I t i s t r ue t hat i t i s not ever y one who can r ead

as J. H. Newman used t o r ead t he Scr i pt ur es i n hi s Chur ch of

St . Mar y' s i n Oxf or d, when ever y wor d, ut t er ed i n si mpl est f ashi on, but

pr egnant wi t h schol ar l y f eel i ng, f el l l i ke musi c on t he l i st ener ' s ear , and

t ouched t he hear t wi t h a st r ange sense of spi r i t ual power . I am t hi nk -

i ng of f or t y year s ago, but I r emember t he ef f ect as di st i nct l y as i f I

hear d t he voi ce yest er day. I t i s not ever y one t hat can achi eve t hi s ; but

ever y one can say t he pr ayer s and r ead t he l essons as i f he f el t t hem,

and as i f he wi shed hi s hear er s shoul d f eel t hem t oo. Ther e i s no par t

of our mi ni st r y whi ch i t i s mor e wor t h whi l e t o do as wel l as i t can

possi bl y be done. "

CHAP. I I . DR. NEWMAN' S SECESSI ON. 45

Newman i n al l t hose spi r i t ual gr aces and i nt el l ect ual gi f t s,

as I t oo deepl y f eel mysel f t o be, i s qui t e i ncompet ent t o

pass j udgment on hi s act . Hi s depar t ur e f r om among us i s

much f el t even by t hose who di f f er ed f r om hi s vi ews

wher e hi s ur bani t y and manner s, no l ess t han hi s exal t ed

i nt el l ect and emi nent pi et y, had much endear ed hi m.

Ther e may be a f ew who ar e f ool i sh, or shor t si ght ed, or

mal i ci ous enough, t o r ej oi ce at i t , but I am happy t o say

t hey ar e but f ew. The gener al f eel i ng i s one of deep r egr et ,

Page 29 of 87

not unaccompani ed by anxi ous quer i es, ' What i s t o become

of t he Chur ch of Engl and ? ' But I have t aken up t oo much

of your t i me wi t h t hi s pai nf ul subj ect , whi ch t he busi ness of

t he l ast week has br ought so vi vi dl y t o our mi nds. To

change t he subj ect . Has Jones f ound me out some hay

and st r aw yet ? Remember t he pr i ce of t he f or mer was not

t o exceed 4/ . 105- . , nor of t he l at t er 2/ . l os. a t on. Wher e i s

l i t t l e Tom st abl ed ? as I suppose we had not hi ng r eady f or

hi s r ecept i on. I shal l be obl i ged t o have my mar e cl i pped,

as her coat i s ver y r ough and l ong. I n ot her r espect s she

l ooks and i s ver y wel l . I n br ewi ng I shoul d t hi nk t hat t he

addi t i on of anot her bushel of mal t t o t he same quant i t y of

wat er , as ' compar ed wi t h t he pr opor t i ons gi ven by Capt ai n

Thompson, woul d gi ve a ver y good beer at about 6d. or ^ d.

a gal l on. See t hat t he casks and pr emi ses ar e al l pr oper l y

cl eaned, whi ch wi l l r equi r e one day' s pr epar at i on, and had

bet t er be done by t he br ewer who knows t he var i ous con-

t r i vances. Hi s name i s War d. You wi l l br ew, I t ake i t ,

about hal f a hogshead, and wi l l put i t i nt o t wo t went y - f i ve

gal l on casks. I hope you have f ound out anot her l aundr ess.

The f i r st one' s per f or mances ar e execr abl e. I am i n t he

f ul l mi ser y of one of her hal f - st ar ched shi r t col l ar s at t hi s

moment . "

4 6 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

Fr aser , as we have al r eady not ed, was f ond of hor ses, and

an excel l ent r i der ; and one of hi s f i r st i nvest ment s on

gai ni ng hi s Fel l owshi p, and so becomi ng at ease i n hi s

f i nances, was a good hack, as not ed by t he Gent l emen

Commoner s. Four ot her of t he j uni or Fel l ows soon f ol -

l owed hi s exampl e, and t he Or i el caval cade became t he

most numer ous i n Oxf or d, much, one may i magi ne, t o t he

ast oni shment , and not al t oget her t o t he l i ki ng, of t he

Pr ovost and seni or Fel l ows ; one of whom, gi ven t o phi l o-

sophi si ng, decl ar ed t hat " he coul d see i n each r i der t he

char act er of each man. "

Undoubt edl y t he equest r i an habi t s of t he st af f act ed t o

some ext ent as an encour agement t o t he hunt i ng men, t he

i dl est set i n col l ege ; al t hough, wi t h t he except i on of Fr aser ,

none of t he Fel l ows pl anned t hei r r i des wi t h any r ef er ence

t o t he hunt i ng cal endar . But he was a keen spor t sman,

and made no secr et of t he pl easur e i t gave hi m t o come

acr oss t he hounds i n t he af t er noon, af t er hi s col l ege wor k

was done, and i n t he Chr i st mas vacat i on he hunt ed r egul ar l y.

1846.

I t i s t hor oughl y char act er i st i c of t he man, t hat , when he

had made up hi s mi nd t o t ake or der s, he r esol ved t o

abandon hi s f avour i t e spor t once f or al l , but , bef or e doi ng

so, t o gi ve hi msel f a shor t season i n " t he shi r e of t he

shi r es. " Accor di ngl y, i mmedi at el y af t er Chr i st mas day,

1846, when he was al r eady a deacon of one week' s st and-

i ng, he went down t o t he Mel t on count r y wi t h hi s t wo

hor ses, and est abl i shed hi msel f i n t he spor t i ng hot el at

At her st one. Thence he wr ot e t o hi s br ot her Br uce :

" I i nt end t o keep a bi t of a j our nal f or your edi f i cat i on. "

Fr om t hi s a f ew shor t ext r act s may her e be gi ven :

CHAP. I I . ADI EU TO HUNTI NG. 47

Page 30 of 87

Monday, Dec. i gt h. " Meet Over seal , near Ashby - de- l a-

Zouch t hi r t een mi l es t o cover t . I st ar t ed at ni ne A. i m-

pr eci sel y, on t he mar e, af t er a good br eakf ast on a sl i ce of

br oi l ed ham and poached eggs. The hounds over t ook me

about hal f way i n t hei r van, l ooki ng ver y ni ce. I was up

however i n l ot s of t i me at t he cover t si de. We soon f ound

i n a l ar ge wood, name unknown, and had a f ai r hunt i ng r un,

wi t h however t oo many checks and t oo col d a scent , f or

near l y t hr ee hour s, and f i nal l y gave up about t hr ee mi l es

nor t h- west of Ashby. We t r ot t ed back t hr ough t he ol d

t own, t he scene, as you r emember , of I vanhoe ( I got a peep

of t he r ui ns of t he cast l e en passant ] , and kept movi ng on

i n a homewar d di r ect i on t i l l we came t o an ozi er - bed t wo

mi l es sout h- east of Ashby name al so unknown and t her e

t hr ew t he hounds i n. We had not t o wai t f i ve mi nut es

bef or e we unkennel l ed a f ox, who went away at a sl appi ng

pace f or f i f t y mi nut ca wi t hout a check, ver y f ast , al l t he way

over a gl or i ous count r y. We t hen came t o a check, and

t hough we pi cked up t he scent agai n t hr ee or f our t i mes

coul d not get on t er ms wi t h r eynar d agai n, and i t bei ng past

f our and near l y dusk, we wer e obl i ged t o cal l t he hounds of f

wi t hout bl ood, but af t er as pr et t y a gal l op as any man coul d

wi sh t o see. Thi s was at Cl i f t on Camvi l l e, t wel ve mi l es

f r om home, so t he mar e di d a good day' s wor k. She car -

r i ed me admi r abl y, wonder f ul l y i mpr oved si nce l ast year

t akes so much mor e l engt h t o her j umps. Al most ever y

f ence had a di t ch one si de or t he ot her , but she never made

a si ngl e mi st ake, and t he l i t t l e t i mber we had she di d i n

good st yl e. I was pl eased, t oo, t o f i nd t hat she was f ast

enough f or what al l who wer e out al l owed t o be a f ast t hi ng,

even i n Lei cest er shi r e, and such was my mai den day i n t hi s

pr i nce of hunt i ng count r i es. Ri di ng home I got i nt o con-

ver sat i on wi t h one of t he whi ps ( t hey have t hr ee out as wel l

4 8 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

as a hunt sman) who has of f er ed t o l i oni se me over t he

kennel . They have upwar ds of si xt y coupl e of hounds and

f or t y hor ses. They sent of f ei ght ol d ones t hi s mor ni ng t o

Bi r mi ngham t o be sol d, I suppose on Thur sday, at t he

r eposi t or y. They passed under my wi ndow as I was

shavi ng. I shal l r i de t he ol d hor se on Wednesday at

Ul l est hor pe, and t he mar e wi l l do wel l agai n f or Fr i day at

Yor k Wood. The count r y was ver y heavy, especi al l y t he

pl oughs, and i t was a st i f f i sh whi t e f r ost when I st ar t ed.

We f ound our second f ox i n t he r ai n, whi ch wonder f ul l y

i mpr oved t he scent . I came home pl eased wi t h t he count r y,

t he hounds, t he hunt smen, t he mast er , my mar e, and

mysel f , and so good- ni ght .

Wednesday. " Ul l est hor pe, a beaut i f ul meet , upwar ds of

a hundr ed. Found at once i n f r ont of t he Hal l , but chopped

hi m i n cover t . Ther e was however a second f ox ' at home, '

t hough t he cover t was not t wo acr es, who l ed us of f at a

r at t l i ng pace f or a quar t er of an hour , when we came acr oss

t he r ai l r oad. Ther e we had a check of t went y mi nut es,

and t hough we f ound t he scent agai n Char l ey was t oo f ar

ahead of us, and we wer e obl i ged t o gi ve hi m up. We t hen

t r ot t ed away f or a f r esh f i nd t o Chur chover , passi ng t hr ough

Lut t er wor t h, f amous i n t he annal s of t he Engl i sh Ref or ma-

t i on as havi ng been t he cur e of John Wi cl i f f e, but now

pr esent i ng not hi ng r emar kabl e. Her e we f ound i n t hr ee

mi nut es, and went away i n spl endi d st yl e, and had a capi t al

hunt i ng r un over a f i ne gr ass count r y f or an hour , when we

came t o a l ong check, and as I f ound I had l ost a f r ont

shoe ( t hough I had t he ol d f el l ow shod onl y t he day bef or e)

Page 31 of 87

and was t went y mi l es f r om home, and r ai ni ng har d, I t hought

i t advi sabl e t o t ur n my hor se' s nose i n t hat di r ect i on. And

a mi ser abl e t i me we had of i t , seven mi l es bef or e we coul d

CHAP. I I . ADI EU TO HUNTI NG. 49

get a smi t h, and pel t i ng r ai n al l t he way ; nei t her hor se nor

man however any t he wor se. The ol d hor se car r i ed me

nobl y. I f l at t er mysel f t her e wer e not many who wer e

near er t he hounds, and at one f ence wi t h a yawni ng di t ch

on t he of f - si de, at whi ch t he l eadi ng man got a t r emendous

f al l , I , bei ng second, got over i n gal l ant st yl e ; but none of

t he f i el d vent ur ed t o f ol l ow our exampl e. I n f act , I am as

wel l mount ed as a man coul d wi sh t o be, and don' t know

whi ch of my hor ses I pr ef er . I t i s however a gr eat dr aw-

back t o t he comf or t of r i di ng t he ' ol d- un ' t hat he i s such a

pul l er . He got me i nt o one or t wo di f f i cul t i es by comi ng

so qui ck on t he man who was goi ng bef or e. As soon as he

sees a f ence he goes at i t at such a. pace, and wi t h such

r esol ut i on, t hat I ' l l def y you t o st op hi m, and I was of t en

obl i ged t o ask men whom I f ound r i di ng at my si de t o l et

me go at t he f ence bef or e t hem on t hi s account .

Fr i day. . . . " We met t hi s mor ni ng at Yor k Wood, t wo

mi l es f r om Col eshi l l and seven f r om Bi r mi ngham. A l ar ge

show of ' Br ummagem But t ons, ' but we shook t hem of f by

degr ees, and had an excel l ent , t hough not ver y f ast , hunt i ng

r un of f our hour s, t hr ough a ver y heavy count r y. We kept

r unni ng t i l l f i ve o' cl ock, when dar kness compel l ed us t o cal l

of f t he hounds wi t hout bl ood, and I f ound mysel f wi t h f our -

t een mi l es t o r i de home. I t was one of t he st aunchest f oxes

I ever f ol l owed, as you may suppose f r om t he t i me we wer e

hunt i ng hi m. The mar e car r i ed me gal l ant l y, gi vi ng me

however one f al l , i n whi ch I sust ai ned no damage beyond

a di r t y coat , t hough on l ooki ng up bef or e r i si ng I f ound

mysel f unpl easant l y si t uat ed, r i ght under her bel l y

I f you want t o see a t op- sawyer , you shoul d see Mr . New-

degat e, one of t he member s f or War wi ckshi r e, r i de. He i s

a young man, about t went y- f our , spl endi dl y mount ed, al ways

50 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

wi t h t wo hor ses out , and he does go. I consi der i t no

l i t t l e cr edi t t o mysel f and my hor se t o be abl e t o f ol l ow i n

hi s wake. Bei ng obl i ged, f r om my i gnor ance of t he count r y,

t o t ake some one as a l eader , I al ways choose hi m, and no

man can show you a bet t er l i ne. "

1847-

He r et ur ned f r om At her st one i n t he second week of

Januar y, 1847, and f r om t hat day never r ode t o hounds.

I n t he pr evi ous aut umn he had al r eady bi dden adi eu t o

anot her f avour i t e vacat i on amusement , whi ch may be di s -

mi ssed wi t h a shor t ext r act f r om a l et t er t o hi s ol d f r i end

and school f el l ow, Sal e :

Bewdl ey, August yt h, 1846. " I am goi ng t o t ake a t an-

dem dr i ve wi t h an ol d Shr ewsbur y man, Regi nal d Tur ner ,

of Bal l i ol , now r ect or of Chur chi l l i n t hi s count r y, al l r ound

Page 32 of 87

t hat par t of t he count r y wher e I suppose you wi l l one day

become a r esi dent , vi z. Hol t , Wi t l ey, and t he Abber l ey

Hi l l s. The vi ew f r om t he l at t er , I am t ol d, i s ver y f i ne.

My t wo hor ses make a capi t al t eam, and as t hi s i s t he l ast

vacat i on i n whi ch I shal l ever i ndul ge agai n i n t he amuse-

ment I avai l mysel f r eadi l y of t he oppor t uni t y. "

Wi t hi n a week of hi s l ast day wi t h t he hounds t he young

deacon was at wor k i n Oxf or d, and soon began t o pr each

weekl y at some chur ch i n t he ci t y, i n addi t i on t o hi s or di nar y

col l ege wor k. The t wo hor ses went back t o Bewdl ey, wher e

hi s younger br ot her , Br uce, moved no doubt by t he At her -

st one l et t er s, as t he mont h sl i pped away, became unwi l l i ng

t o al l ow t he mar e and t he " ol d- un " t o eat t hei r heads of f , and

pi ne f or t he musi c of hor n and hound. Hi s suggest i ons on

t hi s subj ect dr ew f r om James t he f ol l owi ng :

CHAP. I I . ORDI NATI ON. 51

Or i el , Januar y 3O/ / &, 1 847. f ' DEAREST BRUCE, You ar e

per f ect l y wel come t o t ake t he mar e t o Shr awl ey, and I dar e

say i f you have a woodl and r un she wi l l car r y you pr et t y

f ai r l y. But i t i s i mpossi bl e she can be i n condi t i on t o l i ve

t hr ough a f ast t hi ng. Take her , but r i de her j udi ci ousl y.

I f she shows any sympt oms of di st r ess, l eave of f and br i ng

her home, f or not hi ng i s so per manent l y i nj ur i ous t o man or

hor se as pr essur e beyond t hei r st r engt h. "

To hi s Mot her . Feb. 4^ / 1, 1847. " Wi t h r egar d t o what

I sai d i n my l ast about t he subscr i pt i on f or t he I r i sh and

Scot ch, I wi sh t o add a wor d t o Br uce. I f he doesn' t f eel

hi msel f r i ch enough t o gi ve money, he can do somet hi ng by

gi vi ng a l i t t l e of hi s t r oubl e and t i me, and coul d go f r om

house t o house wi t h a l i st f or t he pur pose of col l ect i ng sub-

scr i pt i ons. He woul d t hus have t he sat i sf act i on of as

ef f ect ual l y pr omot i ng t he cause as i f he coul d af f or d ever so

pr i ncel y a donat i on. Ask hi m t o t hi nk t hi s over . " Ther e

i s a smack of t he f ut ur e Bi shop of Manchest er , t he f i r st t o

be met wi t h, i n t hi s suggest i on t o br ot her Br uce.

An ext r act or t wo f r om hi s l et t er s bear i ng on hi s or di na-

t i on may f i t l y cl ose t hi s chapt er . He was or dai ned deacon

on t he Sat ur day bef or e Chr i st mas Day, 1846, and pr i est on

Tr i ni t y Sunday, 1847 :

To hi s Mot her . Or i el , December i o/ / / , 1846. " We ar e

j ust now i n t he mi ddl e of Col l ect i ons, havi ng begun on

Fr i day t o end on Tuesday. At t en A. M. on Thur sday

mor ni ng I have t o pr esent mysel f wi t h t he ot her candi -

dat es f or or di nat i on at t he Bi shop' s Pal ace, whi ch i s at

t he vi l l age of Cuddesden, si x mi l es f r om her e. The

or di nat i on i t sel f I suppose wi l l t ake pl ace as usual , i n t he

cat hedr al on t hi s day week. And now t hat t he t i me i s so

E 2

52 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

cl osel y dr awi ng on, . one' s mi nd cannot but be f i l l ed wi t h

ser i ous t hought s of one' s own weakness and i nsuf f i ci ency,

when compar ed wi t h t he f i el d of l abour i n whi ch one' s l ot

i s t o be cast . Gr eat need i ndeed have I of ever y ai d t o

enabl e me t o wal k wor t hy of t he vocat i on wher ewi t h I shal l

be cal l ed. Do not f or get me, my dear est mot her , i n your

Page 33 of 87

pr ayer s ; i ndeed I know you wi l l not , and t he t hought of

your i nt er cessi on on my behal f , added t o my own i mper f ect

pet i t i ons, has l ong been a comf or t t o my mi nd. "

To hi s Aunt Lucy. " As t he hour appr oaches f or t he

act ual i nvest i t ur e of t hat sacr ed f unct i on, one becomes mor e

and mor e sensi bl e of one' s own ut t er hel pl essness and i n-

suf f i ci ency, unl ess assi st ed by God' s gr ace t o wal k wor t hy of

so hi gh a cal l i ng. I pur pose l eavi ng t hi s f or Bi l st on on

Tuesday, t he 22nd. . . Woul d i t be conveni ent t o send t he

pony- car r i age t o meet me at Bi r mi ngham ? I f so, l et i t be

at t he Hen and Chi ckens by f i ve o' cl ock. The coach get s

i n about si x. Don' t hesi t at e t o say no, i f i t i s t he l east i n-

conveni ent , as I can pocket my i nvi nci bl e di sl i ke t o t hose

omni buses. I f you do send t he pony- car r i age, put i n my

pl ai d, as I dar e say I shal l f i nd i t accept abl e. "

To hi s Uncl e. Jan. , 1847. " I under went t he exami -

nat i on wi t h not a l i t t l e ner vousness on mor e account s t han

one ; but was unexpect edl y r ewar ded at i t s cl ose by t he

Bi shop' s t el l i ng me he had been much gr at i f i ed by my

paper s, and payi ng me t he compl i ment of appoi nt i ng me t o

r ead t he gospel i n t he or di nat i on ser vi ce. "

To hi s Mot her . " I wi sh you and Aunt Lucy woul d gi ve

me your candi d opi ni on about my ser mons, at l east t hose t hat

you have r ead, and wi t h r ef er ence t o t he f ol l owi ng poi nt s :

Do you t hi nk t he l anguage pl ai n and i nt el l i gi bl e t o or di nar y

CHAP. i i . ORDI NATI ON AS PRI EST. 53

mi nds, as wel l as suf f i ci ent l y def i ni t e and pr act i cal i n t hei r

t eachi ng? and how f ar do you t hi nk t hem adapt ed t o

awaken a hear er , and l ead hi m t o appl y what i s sai d t o hi m-

sel f ? I shoul d r eal l y f eel i t a gr eat ki ndness t o have your

mat ur e and unbi assed j udgment on t hese poi nt s. A young

wr i t er i s ver y apt t o decei ve hi msel f , and I want my ser mons

t o be usef ul t o ot her s, and not a di spl ay of any l ear ni ng or

el oquence of my own. "

He l ost no t i me i n qual i f yi ng hi msel f f or pr i est ' s or der s.

To hi s Mot her , Whi t - Sunday ' , 1847. " l am ver y busy,

as I have t o pr epar e f or t he Bi shop' s exami nat i on on

Thur sday next , i n addi t i on t o my usual amount of col l ege

wor k. For , as I t ol d you I pr obabl y shoul d do, I have

made up my mi nd t o be a candi dat e f or pr i est ' s or der s on

Tr i ni t y Sunday. I have no doubt I shal l have t he benef i t

of your t hought s and pr ayer s whi l e endeavour i ng t o appr ove

mysel f t o t he Bi shop wor t hy t o be admi t t ed i nt o t he sacr ed

or der of pr i est s, t hat God may enabl e me t o di schar ge

ar i ght i t s wei ght y r esponsi bi l i t i es t o t he i ncr ease of Hi s

gl or y and t he benef i t of Hi s Chur ch. " And t hen, speaki ng

of t he col l ege l i vi ng of Chol der t on, j ust vacant by t he

r esi gnat i on of Mr . Thos. Mozl ey ( Car di nal Newman' s

br ot her - i n- l aw, aut hor of t he Memoi r s) , " The Chol der t on

case i s st i l l unset t l ed, as Chur ch' s answer has not yet been

r ecei ved. The del ay i s odd ; but I suppose he was wander -

i ng about , and so t he l et t er had t o f ol l ow hi m. But I

suppose af t er al l I shal l be r ect or t her e, and t he mor e I

t hi nk t he subj ect over t he mor e I t hi nk I shoul d pr omot e

my own happi ness ( and I f l at t er mysel f , your s al so, i f you

consent t o come and keep house wi t h me) by bei ng so. I

wr ot e t o Br uce wi t h your l et t er , among ot her t hi ngs r ecom-

mendi ng hi m t o di scont i nue past r y, and ever yt hi ng t hat

Page 34 of 87

54 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

consumes f l our , except br ead. Wi t h wheat at 15^ . a bushel

we shoul d have al l economy i n i t s consumpt i on. We have

f or bi dden past r y i n t he col l ege, and many ot her s have done

t he same t hi ng. By t he by, I was t ol d t he ot her day t hat

as a subst i t ut e f or pot at oes, r i ce and peas done t oget her

wer e much super i or t o ei t her veget abl e al one. The r ecei pt

was f r om t he Bi shop of Oxf or d, who had seen i t used at t he

Queen' s t abl e. Tr y i t . "

To hi s Mot her . Or i el Col l ege, Tr i ni t y Monday, 1847.

" I have j ust r ead your i nt er est i ng budget ( and f or war ded

i t ) , f or whi ch however I had t o pay 2d. mor e. When you

r un wei ght so ver y f i ne, why not gi ve t he r evenue t he benef i t

of t he doubt ? Per haps you t hi nk t hat you do t hi s t he

mor e ef f ect ual l y by get t i ng an ext r a penny out of t he r e-

ci pi ent of t he l et t er , but you shoul d r emember t hat t hi s i n

some measur e di mi ni shes t he f eel i ng of sat i sf act i on wi t h

whi ch i t i s r ecei ved. . . . I was or dai ned yest er day pr i est

( wi t h t went y- t wo ot her s) by t he Bi shop of Oxf or d, af t er t hr ee

pr evi ous days of exami nat i on and exhor t at i on f r om t he

Bi shop, at hi s pal ace at Cuddesdon. I cannot but consi der

i t t o be a gr eat pr i vi l ege t o be or dai ned by such a Bi shop.

So much sol emni t y and hol y f eel i ng does he i mpar t t o ever y,

even t he sl i ght est , det ai l of t he whol e cer emony, t hat i t i s

i mpossi bl e f or even t he l i ght est - hear t ed ( and I f eel t hat my

hear t i s sadl y t oo l i ght and f r i vol ous) t o be ot her wi se t han

deepl y i mpr essed wi t h t he busi ness i n whi ch he i s engaged.

I have now a f ul l commi ssi on t o pr each God' s Wor d, t o

di spense Hi s Sacr ament s, and t o decl ar e Hi s par don. May

He gr ant me gr ace t o do t hem al l f ai t hf ul l y, and t o Hi s

gl or y ! I cannot but f eel and know how weak and i mper f ect

t he i nst r ument ; but i t i s a comf or t t o be assur ed t hat our

suf f i ci ency i s not of our sel ves. "

CHAPTER I I I .

" When t hou dost pur pose ought ( wi t hi n t hy power )

Be sur e t hou doe i t , t hough i t be but smal l .

Const ancy kni t s our bones, and makes us st our e,

When want on pl easur e beckons us t o t hr awl e.

Who br eaks hi s own bond f or f ei t et h hi msel f ,

What nat ur e made a shi p he makes a shel f . "

HERBERT, The Chur ch Por ch.

CHOLDERTON. I . THE NEW CHURCH. 1847 1849.

l 8 47 .

THE l i t t l e l i vi ng of Chol der t on i s one of t he poor est i n t he

gi f t of Or i el I t passed al l down t he l i st of f el l ows i n June,

1847, but no man was wi l l i ng t o t ake i t at t he cost of hi s

f el l owshi p. A Col l ege meet i ng was t her eupon cal l ed, at

whi ch i t was deci ded, t hat Chol der t on shoul d be " t enabl e

wi t h a f el l owshi p. " Even i n t hi s f or m i t was decl i ned by al l

t he seni or f el l ows, and came t o Er aser , who accept ed i t . He

was i nduct ed ear l y i n Jul y, and t hen, by ar r angement wi t h

t he out goi ng i ncumbent , Mr . Mozl ey, t ook t wo mont hs

hol i day on t he Cont i nent bef or e goi ng i nt o r esi dence. Hi s

pr edecessor , who had, f r om an occasi onal cont r i but or ,

become one of t he pr i nci pal wr i t er s on t he st af f of t he Ti mes,

had f ound t he t wo posi t i ons i ncompat i bl e, unl ess hi s par i sh

wor k was t o be scamped, and so was mi gr at i ng t o London.

Page 35 of 87

He and hi s wi f e wer e bui l di ng a new chur ch, at Chol der t on,

t o r epl ace t he one i n use, whi ch had f al l en i nt o hopel ess

decay, and had no ar chi t ect ur al or ant i quar i an i nt er est t o

$6 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

make i t wor t h pr eser vi ng. I n t he shor t vi si t whi ch Fr aser

pai d t hem bef or e st ar t i ng f or hi s hol i day, he seems t o have

won t hei r ent i r e conf i dence, and a f r i endshi p at once spr ung

up bet ween t hem, whi ch was onl y t o end wi t h t he l i f e of t he

younger man. The zeal and i nsi ght wi t h whi ch he ent er ed

i nt o al l t hei r pl ans as t o t he new chur ch, and t ook up t he

t hr eads of t he par i sh wor k of al l ki nds, hast ened t he

t r ansi t i on f r om acquai nt anceshi p t o f r i endshi p.

Of t hi s cont i nent al t our t he ent r y i n hi s smal l pocket -

book, " Vi t a mece ( mi hi non al i i s) memor abi l i a" r uns :

" Jul y 14 Sept ember 17. Tour on t he cont i nent wi t h

Mar sh and Powl es. St ar t i ng f r om Ramsgat e : Ost end,

Col ogne, Cobl enz, Fr ankf or t , Hei del ber g, Baden, St r asbur g,

Fr ei bur g, Schaf f hausen, Zur i ch, Luzer n, t he Ober l and,

I nt er l aken, Thun, Vevay, Ber ne, Geneva, Mont Bl anc, t he

Si mpl on, Domo d' Ossol a, L. Maggi or e, Lugano and Como,

Mi l an, Veni ce, Padua, Tr ent , t he St el vi o, Fi nst er munz,

I nnspr uck, Muni ch, Augsbur g, Nur ember g, Wur t zbur g, t he

Mayne, Fr ankf or t , down t he Rhi ne, home. Expenses,

43 / . 155. 6

CHAP. i n. THE PAI NTED WI NDOWS. 73

On Si de Compar t ment . On Si de Compar t ment .

JOANNES WI LLI M FRASER ROBERTUS BRUCE FRASER

Apud I ndos Or i ent at es j am Bi enni o l egi s st udent i vi x

bi enni um mi l i t ans, exact o,

I mmat ur a mor t e per empt us I mmor t al i t at em cum vi t a com-

est . mut av. t ,

di e Sept embr i s, A. D. 1840, aeL 20. 3t i o di e Novembr i s, A. D. 1847, zt - 20 -

I N CENTRAL COMPARTMENT. '

Ambo def l endi deder ant si f at a t u?r i

Ar mi s hi e pat r i am nover at , i l l e t oga.

Amho t i r ones, t ot i demque j equal i t er annos,

Of f i ci o ceci di t j unct us ut er que suo.

Jamque j acent ( f as si t sper ar e) ubi nul l a manebunt

Causave consul t o, bel l ave agenda duci .

I add t he gener al desi gn :

DESI GN FOR CHURCH WI NDOWS.

4 3 21

THOMAS JAMES PAUL LUKE

and and and and

Page 36 of 87

MATTHI AS. BARTHOLOMEW. BARNABAS. JOHN.

Four Nor t h si de 2- l i ght wi ndows, wi t h f i gur es of Evangel i st s and Apost l es.

1- 3 ^ ' ~ ^

=r 3 c. =r p*

C. n n ;

- = ? 3 r . n ~

, - * I 1. 3 S ?

I K ^

3 3 ?. $ r - r

12 3 4

MATTHEW ANDREW PHI LI P SI MON

and and and and

MARK. PETER. JAMES THE LESS. JUDE.

Four Sout h si de 2- l i ght wi ndows, wi t h f i gur es of Evangel i st s and Apost l es.

' The epi t aph i n t he t ext was copi ed f r om Er aser ' s or i gi nal manuscr i pt . The

pr esent i ncumbent sends t he f ol l owi ng as t he f j r m of t he memor i al ver ses as t hey now

st and i n t he Chur ch :

Par f r at r um concor s pur os quei s I nt egr a m ^ r es

Fi ngebat pi et as i ngenuusque pudor .

Ambo t i r ones, t ot i demque aequal i t er annos,

Of f i ci o ceci di t f unct us ut er que suo.

Ot i a j am nor unt aet er na. ubi nul l a manebunt

Causave consul t o, bel l ave agenda duci .

74 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

Thi s el abor at e pl an seems t o have st ar t l ed t he Mozl eys ;

and t o have dr awn a r emonst r ance and caut i on f r om t hem

by r et ur n of post . They had not t hen di scover ed what a

super b busi ness f acul t y t hei r young f r i end possessed. To

t hi s he r epl i ed: " You must not j udge me t oo hast i l y. I

never t hought of t hi s as one of t he t hi ngs t o be done i mme-

di at el y, but onl y as a scheme i n my head whi ch I one day

hope t o r eal i se. I shoul d not even have at t empt ed t he

memor i al wi ndow t i l l t he chur ch was f i ni shed, had not my

cal cul at i ons j ust i f i ed me i n t hi nki ng I coul d manage my par t

i n bot h at t he same t i me. For you must not suppose t hat I

am encount er i ng t he expense of t hese wor ks al one. I n t he

memor i al wi ndow, f or i nst ance, my mot her , my uncl e, and

my aunt shar e t he expense wi t h me ; whi ch wi l l not make

our sever al cont i ngent s mor e t han 4o/ . Agai n, f or t he school -

house, t he most essent i al need of t he par i sh by f ar , my

mot her has pr omi sed me i oo/ . , and my uncl e somet hi ng, so

t hat I do not t hi nk what wi l l have t o come out of my own

pocket wi l l exceed 3oo/ . Now, you know, I r eal l y have a

Page 37 of 87

ver y good i ncome, wi t h my f el l owshi p and t he l i vi ng

t oget her , and an occasi onal pupi l ; not much l ess t han 55o/ .

or 6oo/ . a year . My mot her pays me aoo/ . t owar ds house

expenses, and t hese har dl y exceed 4oo/ . a year , hor ses and

al l i ncl uded, so t hat I have a consi der abl e sur pl us, and

t hough t he expenses of f ur ni shi ng, bui l di ng, exchangi ng t he

gl ebe, &c. , wi l l have been r at her heavy upon me, and do

not l eave me much t o spar e now ; and t he school house i s a

pr ospect i ve dr ai n i n t he same di r ect i on ; yet , when al l t hi s

i s done, and al l t he annual cl ai ms of t he par i sh ( whi ch do

not come t o 5

went t o Bever l ey Far m, an exqui si t e sea- si de r esi dence of

Char l es Lor i ng, a l eadi ng Bost on l awyer and i nt i mat e f r i end

of Gol dwi n Smi t h' s, t o spend t hr ee days. I f you see Dr /

CHAP. vi . A POLI TI CAL MEETI NG. 135

Smi t h " [ Gol dwi n Smi t h' s f at her , l i vi ng near Readi ng] " you

can gr at i f y hi m by t el l i ng hi m i n what uni ver sal est eem

Gol dwi n i s hel d i n Bost on, and i ndeed ever ywher e I have

been. "

I n t he week he spent on hi s wor k i n t he " queen ci t y "

t he t her momet er was r angi ng bet ween 90 and 100 i n t he

shade. " I t made me f eel ver y l angui d and cl ammy al l day

l ong, and at ni ght was har dl y cool er , but I f ound I st ood i t

as wel l as t hose t o t he manner bor n, and I don' t t hi nk I

shal l t ake any har m, f or t hey t el l me i t i s not l i kel y t o be

any hot t er . "

Fr om Ci nci nnat i he sai l ed up t he Ohi o t o vi si t " Uncl e

Har r y " at hi s Kent ucky f ar m near Vancebur g, at whi ch ci t y

he wr i t es i n passi ng, " I wi t nessed a char act er i st i c scene.

The t wo candi dat es f or t hat di st r i ct had come t o Vancebur g

t o ' st ump t he count r y, ' i . e. t o make speeches and decl ar e

t hei r pol i t i cal vi ews. I went t o hear t hem, and was a good

deal st r uck by t he abi l i t y of one of t he speaker s. The

occasi on however was di sgr aced by a r ow. One of t he

candi dat es t ol d t he ot her t hat ' he t ol d a d d l i e, ' upon

whi ch an upr oar ensued beggar i ng descr i pt i on. Revol ver s

wer e dr awn and oat hs swor n, t hr oat s sei zed, shi r t s t or n, and

I began t o t hi nk we wer e i n f or a r egul ar Amer i can r ow.

But i t happi l y evapor at ed bef or e any wor se damage was

done t han a f ew shi r t s t or n t o r ags, and I was pl eased t o be

t ol d f or t he cr edi t of t hei r i nst i t ut i ons t hat such r ows wer e

a r ar e occur r ence even i n Kent ucky. "

" Uncl e Har r y' s pl ace i s beaut i f ul l y si t uat ed, but bot h t he

house and t hei r st yl e of l i vi ng ar e of t he most pr i mi t i ve ki nd.

. . They seem t o be doi ng ver y f ai r l y wel l , t hough I sus -

136 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

pect t hey l et t hi ngs sl i p t hr ough t hei r hands a bi t , and t her e

ar e not many t okens of t i di ness about . The house i s mer el y

a l og house, whi ch my uncl e has been t al ki ng of r ebui l di ng

ever si nce he came her e ( si xt een year s) , but i t i s onl y t al k

st i l l . The st eam- saw has st ood st i l l f or f our year s, and l ooks

negl ect ed, and can' t be r un agai n unt i l i t has a new boi l er ,

whi ch wi l l cost $1100. The shoemaker ' s shop i s unt enant ed.

Page 38 of 87

They sel l no l umber now, but occupy t hemsel ves wi t h

f ar mi ng and bar k- peel i ng, t he l at t er bei ng a pr of i t abl e t r ade.

They own al t oget her about 4, 000 acr es. The est at e at

Sul phur Br anch i s 2, 600, of whi ch about 200 ar e cl ear ed.

Uncl e has al so a f ar m at Cl ar ksbur y of 300, whi ch he l et s ;

Jack and Tom have anot her at Maysvi l l e of t he same si ze.

Edwar d ( who i s get t i ng on bet t er t han he ever yet has done)

has anot her , about t en mi l es of f , of 300. Thei r st ock at

Sul phur Br anch i s of t hi s amount : Seven hor ses, t went y - f our

beast s and cows, f i f t y sheep, f i f t y hogs, t went y - f i ve geese, and

one hundr ed poul t r y. My aunt i s a wonder f ul woman f or

act i vi t y and i ndust r y, al ways busy, and l ooks as har d- wor ked

as any l abour er ' s wi f e i n Uf t on. My uncl e does not hi ng

now, i ndeed, Jack says, he has done not hi ng ever si nce t hey

have been at Sul phur . Not hi ng coul d exceed t he ki ndness

of t hei r r ecept i on of me ; and, t hough nei t her t hei r way of

l i f e sui t ed my t ast e nor t hei r f ar e my st omach, I coul d not

but l ook wi t h t he deepest i nt er est on such a pi ct ur e of r ur al

si mpl i ci t y and happi ness. . . . I have t aken my homewar d

passage on t he Cuba, l eavi ng New Yor k Oct ober 4t h. . . .

The count r y has become cal mer , and I meet wi t h l ess of

t he bi t t er f eel i ng t owar ds Engl and, but al most ever y day

I f i nd t okens t hat i t st i l l exi st s, and ever y one f eel s t he

di f f i cul t y of pol i t i cal r econst r uct i on amongst t hemsel ves. I

am ver y gl ad I had t he oppor t uni t y of comi ng her e, I never

shoul d have under st ood t hi s count r y ot her wi se. Engl i sh

CHAP. vi . GENERAL SHERMAN. 137

j our nal i st s, and st at esmen t oo, seem t o me ut t er l y i n t he

dar k about i t . "

Tor ont o, Jul y 27 t h, af t er vi si t i ng St , Loui s and Chi cago.

" I have now seen t he gr eat r i ver s of t he Amer i can con-

t i nent , and wonder f ul t hey ar e, and wonder f ul i t was t o sj e

sevent y or ei ght y huge st eamer s, each per haps capabl e of

car r yi ng f r om 500 t o 1000 passenger s, l yi ng at one t i me

al ong t he l evee ( or quay) of St . Loui s. At St . Loui s I saw

Gener al Sher man, t hough I was not i nt r oduced t o hi m, and

was much st r uck wi t h hi s appear ance, l ooki ng ever y i nch

t he man who shoul d have done what he has done. At

Ni agar a, I never wear i ed of si t t i ng i n t he pi azza of t he

Cl i f t on House ( t he hot el on t he Canadi an si de, and one of

t he ni cest I have been i n) and gazi ng at t he panor ama of

bot h Fal l s. I f t he r eal i t y di d not sur pass my expect at i on

nei t her di d i t on t he ot her hand f al l bel ow i t . I was

sat i sf i ed"

August Sf / i . " The Canadi an school s, I am sor r y t o say,

ar e j ust goi ng i nt o vacat i on, i ndeed t o- day i s br eaki ng- up

day, and I have been at t endi ng an exami nat i on of one of

t hem f or t wo hour s of t he f or enoon and as many of t he

af t er noon, besi des maki ng a speech t o t he chi l dr en, t he

i nevi t abl e penal t y, as I f i nd i t , of t he ' di st i ngui shed posi -

t i on ' I have t he honour t o hol d. So I shal l occupy mysel f

get t i ng up my not es, and t her e i s a t eacher s' af t er noon

meet i ng t o be hel d, whi ch I shal l be gl ad t o at t end and

compar e wi t h t he si mi l ar one at Ci nci nnat i . "

Sf . Loui s Hot el , Quebec, August i qt / i , 1865. - " I ar r i ved

her e by st eamer f r om Mont r eal t hi s mor ni ng and f i nd your s

( No. 4, wi t h dat es up t o August 4t h) wai t i ng f or me. . . . So

dear ol d Al ex " [ hi s br ot her , t he Col onel ] " i s i n Engl and !

Page 39 of 87

138 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

What an unexpect ed sur pr i se and pl easur e ! I hope he

won' t be i n any hur r y, or under any necessi t y, t o be ' goi ng '

agai n j ust yet . I had al r eady begun t o count t he weeks

t hat yet r emai n bef or e my r et ur n, and I shal l count t hem

now wi t h t wof ol d anxi et y. On t he i 4t h or i st h Oct ober I

expect , al l bei ng wel l , t o t ouch once mor e dear ol d

Engl and' s soi l . I shal l l ove i t none t he l ess f or my si x

mont hs' absence; and you may t el l t he good squi r e of

Sul hampst ead t hat , amongst ot her s near and dear , I shal l

be j ust as gl ad t o see hi s cheer y f ace agai n as he says he

shal l be t o see mi ne. I n my sol i t ar y moment s, whi ch ar e

not f ew, I of t en dr aw pi ct ur es of you al l , Sundays and ot her

days, and amuse mysel f by f ancyi ng how you ar e al l

engaged. The gr eat dr awback I f i nd t o t he pl easur e of t hi s

t r i p of mi ne i s t hat i t has t o be made so much al one, and

t hough I have heaps of ki nd acquai nt ances, and even of

f r i ends, I yet of t en f eel t he want of a geni al compani on,

such as Ar t hur Bl ai r was l ast summer . Tel l Meacher he

had bet t er get t he mar e i nt o or der f or t he Col onel ' s r i di ng,

t hough i f he has got so f at , and I pr esume pr opor t i onal l y

heavy, per haps he' l l f i nd i t saf er t o use ol d Monmout h f or

hi s char ger , as he scar cel y ever st umbl es, whi l e t he mar e i s

apt t o be car el ess. At any r at e, l et hi m use t he hor ses and

car r i ages as f r eel y as i f t hey wer e hi s own ; and add al so,

wi t h my l ove, t hat I hope he' l l make Uf t on Rect or y hi s

home as l ong as he st ays i n Engl and, and t hat we' l l t r y and

make hi m f or get some of t he gr i evances and annoyances

t hat di st ur b hi s peace el sewher e. By t he by, don' t l et t hat

champagne spoi l i n t he case, f or I know you al l l i ke i t

even Aunt Lucy, t hough she does somet i mes l ook t he ot her

way when I am f i l l i ng her gl ass and i t ' l l never be bet t er

f i t f or dr i nki ng t han i t i s now. . . . I saw James' s " [ an

ol d ser vant of Mr . Chr i st i e, t he f or mer r ect or ! " t wo sons

CHAP. vi . PARI SHI ONERS' RELATI VES. 139

who ar e st at i oned i n t he ar t i l l er y bar r acks at Mont r eal , and

you may t el l hi m t hey bot h l ooked ver y wel l , and t he one

who has had t he smal l - pox i s not at al l mar ked by i t . They

t ol d me t hei r br ot her Jack had enl i st ed, but t hat hi s f at her

had bought hi m out . Tel l James I t hi nk he mi ght have

done bet t er i n savi ng hi s money, and l et t i ng t hat somewhat

unpr of i t abl e yout h ( I f ear ) come t o hi s senses and know

when he was wel l of f by goi ng t hr ough a l i t t l e mi l i t ar y

di sci pl i ne. Tel l Mr s. Pear ce al so t hat I saw her br ot her ,

Samuel Lee, and hi s wi f e and t hei r t hr ee l i t t l e chi l dr en, t he

youngest named Rebecca, af t er her . He i s a ver y qui et ,

r espect abl e- l ooki ng man, l i vi ng as coachman wi t h a

Mont r eal mer chant , and ear ni ng $14 a mont h ( about 2

175. ) besi des boar d and cl ot hes. Hi s wi f e i s I r i sh and a

Roman Cat hol i c. He r egr et s t he l at t er , but says t hey l i ve

ver y happi l y t oget her . He i s qui t e comf or t abl e, and says

Canada i s a count r y i n whi ch any one may do wel l who has

a mi nd t o t r y. . . . I l ef t Tor ont o by t he st eamer f or

Mont r eal , The r un i s about 280 mi l es, and occupi es f r om

t wo p. m. one day t o si x p. m. on t he next . Among t he

passenger s wer e Mr . and Mr s. Char l es Kean, who ar e

st ar r i ng i n Amer i ca, and whose acquai nt ance I sl i ght l y

made on t he voyage. The r out e i s down Lake Ont ar i o

and t hen down t he St . Lawr ence, t he gr andest r i ver i n t he

wor l d. The poi nt s of chi ef i nt er est ar e what ar e cal l ed t he

Thousand I sl ands, j ust bel ow Ki ngst on ; t he r api ds, t hr ee

i n number , ver y exci t i ng and not a l i t t l e danger ous, but

t hr ough whi ch advent ur ous pi l ot s car r y advent ur ous t r avel -

Page 40 of 87

l er s t wo or t hr ee t i mes a day wi t hout any ser i ous acci dent

as yet havi ng ever occur r ed. To show how l i t t l e one of t en

r eal l y knows what danger i s, about a mi l e af t er we had r un

t hr ough t he La Chi ne r api d, t he most f or mi dabl e of t hem

al l , and wer e about hal f a mi l e f r om t he wonder f ul Vi ct or i a

140 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

t ubul ar br i dge, and wi t hi n si ght of Mont r eal , our pi l ot ,

huggi ng t he shor e r at her t oo cl osel y, r an t he shi p on a r ock,

over whi ch however she di d manage t o scr ape heavi l y, I

bel i eve wi t hout any ser i ous damage, but not wi t hout gi vi ng

one or t wo awkwar d l ur ches, and sendi ng one or t wo l adi es

on boar d i nt o f ai nt i ng f i t s. I t was j ust wi t hi n an ace of

bei ng a bad acci dent ; i f t her e had been si x i nches l ess

wat er i n t he r i ver t he shi p woul d pr obabl y have st r uck har d

enough t o have sunk her . Ther e ar e such r i sks i n Amer i can

t r avel f r om t he r eckl essness of conduct or s and pi l ot s. . . .

I was del i ght ed at t he r esul t of our Ber ks el ect i on so f ar as

our squi r e ( Mr . Benyon) was concer ned. Though I am

much mor e of a Li ber al t han a Conser vat i ve, I shoul d have

been sor r y i ndeed i f he had not r et ai ned hi s seat . Hi s

compani ons i n honour I do not know, and car e about

t her ef or e l ess ; but as I t hi nk t he Li ber al par t y ar e st r ong

enough, and t he count r y i s bet t er gover ned when t her e i s a

t ol er abl y power f ul opposi t i on, I don' t gr udge t hem t hei r

vi ct or y, and t hough I r espect John Wal t er f or many poi nt s

i n hi s char act er , he r eal l y i s so puf f ed up wi t h t he concei t

t hat he i s a sor t of wal ki ng i ncar nat i on of t he wi sdom of t he

Ti mes, t hat hi s def eat di dn' t dr aw any t ear s f r om my eyes.

I f he want s hi s concei t l essened he shoul d come t o Amer i ca,

and hear what t he Yankees say and t hi nk of hi s newspaper .

He woul d r eal l y st and a good chance of bei ng t ar r ed and

f eat her ed. I n t he hot el at Mont r eal I saw Dr . Char l es

Mackay, who f or t he l ast t hr ee year s of t he war was t he

Ti mes' cor r espondent at New Yor k. I l ooked upon hi m

wi t h anyt hi ng but l i ki ng, as t he man who, mor e t han any

Page 41 of 87

one el se ( except per haps Lor d Russel l , and he has done i t

uni nt ent i onal l y, because i t i s hi s nat ur e t o wr i t e i r r i t at i ng

despat ches) , has st i r r ed up t he bad bl ood bet ween us and

t he Amer i cans, or r at her bet ween t he Amer i cans and us.

CHAP. VI . THE TI MES. 141

The Amer i cans however have t hei r f eel i ngs soon up and

down, and I t hi nk t he i l l - di sposi t i ons t owar ds Engl and ar e

al r eady much mi t i gat ed. . . . By t he way, t hank Mr s.

Benyon f or her ki nd i nt er est i n me, but nobody need be

al ar med about me on t hat head. I f I ever mar r y any one

you may depend i t wi l l be an Engl i shwoman. I see no

f or ei gner s t o mat ch my own count r ywomen, and as t o

Amer i can l adi es, t hough t her e ar e many f i ne poi nt s i n t hei r

char act er , t her e ar e ot her s t hat ar e anyt hi ng but at t r act i ve

t o me, and suggest i ve of anyt hi ng but l ove.

" Not hi ng f or a l ong t i me has i nt er est ed me mor e t han

Mr . Whymper ' s l et t er i n t he Ti mes of August 8t h, descr i bi ng

t he l at e f at al acci dent on t he Mat t er hor n. You know I was

at Zer mat t l ast year , and hear d al l t he specul at i ons as t o i t s

accessi bi l i t y, and t he st or i es of f ai l ur e of at t empt s al r eady

made. I t seems however an acci dent t hat mi ght have

happened anywher e, and when t he f i r st pani c has subsi ded

t he Mat t er hor n wi l l pr obabl y submi t t o be conquer ed, as

Mont Bl anc and Mont e Rosa have been. But I don' t t hi nk

t he Col onel and I wi l l ever at t empt t he f eat , my own

ambi t i on not l yi ng t hat way. The Wei ss Thor l ast year was

as much as I f el t mysel f equal t o. . . . I r et ur n on t he

25t h by st eamboat t o Mont r eal . Fr om t hence I shal l t ake

a r un t o Ot t awa, t he new capi t al , t o whi ch t he seat of

Gover nment i s j ust goi ng t o be moved, wher e t hey say t he

new publ i c bui l di ngs ar e t he f i nest on t hi s cont i nent . I

t hen r et ur n t o t he St at es, vzd Lake Champl ai n, t o Al bany,

t hence down t he Hudson t o New Yor k. I f I have t i me I

may t ake a r un t o Phi l adel phi a and Washi ngt on, j ust t o see

t hose ci t i es. "

Quebec Ci t adel . " The f ool i sh Engl i sh peopl e ar e j ust

commenci ng t o spend a mi l l i on on st r engt heni ng and ext end-

142 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

i ng t he f or t i f i cat i on, whi ch, i n my opi ni on, and t hat of most

Canadi ans I have t al ked wi t h, won' t cont r i but e i n any appr e-

ci abl e degr ee t o t he st r engt h of Canada. I al ways t hought

i t an absur d wast e of money, and now t hat I see t hi ngs on

t he spot I am st i l l mor e convi nced of i t s f ut i l i t y. "

New Yor k, Sept . i 2/ / i , 1865. Af t er speaki ng of hi s r un

t o Ot t awa and j our ney f r om Mont r eal t hr ough Ver mont :

" On 3i st I had a beaut i f ul st eam down Lakes Champl ai n

and Geor ge t o Cal dwel l at t he head of t he l at t er l ake,

passi ng Cr own Poi nt , For t Ti conder oga, and ot her poi nt s,

al l wi t h hi st or i cal names connect ed wi t h t he r evol ut i onar y

war . The scener y i s beaut i f ul on t hese t wo l akes, l yi ng

bet ween t he Gr een Mount ai ns of Ver mont on one si de and

t he Adi r ondacs of New Yor k St at e on t he ot her . On

Sept ember i st my day' s j our ney was t o Sar at oga Spr i ngs

near whi ch pl ace Bur goyne' s ar my sur r ender ed now a pl ace

Page 42 of 87

of most f ashi onabl e r esor t , f amous al so f or i t s medi ci nal

wat er s, of whi ch I i mbi bed a consi der abl e quant i t y dur i ng

t he t hr ee days I st ayed t her e, not wi t hout benef i t , I t hi nk.

I was f or t unat e i n f i ndi ng al l t he Mi nt ur n f ami l y st ayi ng at

t he same hot el at whi ch I put up, whi ch made my soj our n

much mor e agr eeabl e.

" On Sept ember 4t h I l ef t Sar at oga f or Al bany, t he capi t al

of t he New Yor k St at e, wher e I st ayed a day l onger t han I

i nt ended, i n or der t o be pr esent at t he mar r i age of a Mr .

Pr uyn, a gent l eman t o whom I had i nt r oduct i ons, who was

par t i cul ar l y ki nd t o me, and al so par t i cul ar l y anxi ous t hat I

shoul d see hi m make hi s second mat r i moni al exper i ment .

I t was a ver y gay and pr et t y weddi ng, sdon l a mode Angl ai se,

cel ebr at ed i n a ver y handsome chur ch by t he Bi shop of New

Yor k, t he newl y- mar r i ed coupl e r ecei vi ng t he Sacr ament .

Mar r i ages ar e not al ways so sol emn an af f ai r i n t he St at es.

CHAP. vi . WEST POI NT. 143

I n most of t he St at es peopl e may be mar r i ed at any pl ace

and at any t i me, and by any per son ; and i n New Yor k

St at e t wo per sons may even mar r y t hemsel ves, by si mpl y

decl ar i ng, bef or e any t wo peopl e, t hat t hey i nt end t o l i ve as

man and wi f e t oget her .

" On Sept ember 8t h I l ef t Al bany, st eami ng down t he

beaut i f ul Hudson Ri ver , wi t h i t s banks st udded on bot h si des

wi t h vi l l a r esi dences and t hr i vi ng t owns and vi l l ages, as f ar

as West Poi nt , t he f amous Mi l i t ar y Academy of t he Uni t ed

St at es, whi ch educat ed al l t he gr eat gener al s on bot h si des

dur i ng t he l at e war Gr ant , Sher man, and Sher i dan, as wel l

as Lee, Beaur egar d, and St onewal l Jackson. I had l et t er s

of i nt r oduct i on t o Pr of essor Fr ench, t he chapl ai n, who

woul d t ake no deni al but t hat I must t ake up my quar t er s

wi t h hi m, and pr each t o t he cadet s on Sunday i n t he chapel

of t he academy whi ch, accor di ngl y, I di d, and a ver y

pl easant t hr ee days I spent . West Poi nt possesses some of

t he f i nest scener y I have seen i n Amer i ca, commandi ng

beaut i f ul vi ews up and down t he Hudson, and embosomed

i n r i ch woods.

" I was qui t e gr at i f i ed wi t h t hat cor r espondence bet ween

Thoyt s and Mowbr ay. The honest hear t of t he f or mer

showed i t sel f i n ever y l i ne of hi s l et t er s. I am af r ai d I get

day by day l ess and l ess of a Conser vat i ve mysel f ; but I

have none t he l ess r espect f or men of al l par t i es who st i ck t o

t hei r pr i nci pl es ; and I r ej oi ced over t he r esul t of t he Ber k -

shi r e el ect i on, as f ar as our own good squi r e was concer ned.

" I do not l i ke Al ex' s account of hi msel f . I am af r ai d

t he pai n i n t he back comes f r om some af f ect i on of t he

ki dneys, i nci pi ent Br i ght ' s di sease or di abet es bot h of t hem

gener al l y t he r esul t s of sedent ar y habi t s and over br ai n wor k.

Tel l hi m t her e i s l ot s of cl ar et i n t he cel l ar , whi ch I hope

he wi l l set t o wor k upon as soon as he pl eases. I f Aunt

144 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

Lucy does not r emember whi ch i t i s, I can t el l her . I t i s

t he l ar ger quant i t y i n t hose shel ves on t he r i ght si de ent er i ng

t he cel l ar , wi t h a gr een seal , I t hi nk, l abel l ed ' Cl ar et - at - es. '

That ' s t he or di nar y cl ar et , t he ot her i s much hi gher pr i ced,

and onl y f or speci al occasi ons. "

Page 43 of 87

New Yor k, Sept . zot h, 1865. " I di d not i nt end wr i t i ng

t o you agai n t hi s si de of t he At l ant i c. But , t hough I am

goi ng t o sai l i n a good shi p ( t he Aust r al asi an] , wi t h a good

capt ai n ( Cook) , and i n one of t he best mont hs of t he year

( Oct ober ) , yet t her e i s al ways a r i sk i n an ocean voyage, and

t her e wi l l at any r at e be no har m done i n ment i oni ng bef or e-

hand one or t wo t hi ngs, i n case anyt hi ng shoul d happen.

" ( i ) I have el even of t he London and West mi nst er

Bank' s i o/ . ci r cul ar not es l ef t unt ouched, nor shal l I have

occasi on t o cash any mor e. So t hat t her e wi l l be no/ , due

f r om t hem t o my est at e.

" ( 2) My wi l l i s i n my mahogany desk, t he key of whi ch

however I have wi t h me.

" ( 3) The Commi ssi oner s advanced me soo/ . f or my

t r avel l i ng expenses, whi ch i s, or r at her wi l l be, as near l y as

possi bl e exhaust ed. So t hat t her e wi l l be not hi ng due t o

t hem or f r om t hem. They wi l l har dl y pay me my 5o/ . a

mont h f or my wor k i f i t al l get s bur i ed wi t h mysel f at t he

bot t om of t he ocean.

" I mer el y ment i on t hese poi nt s by way of pr ecaut i on,

and t hat you may know how t o act i n case of anyt hi ng

bef al l i ng me ; but I ant i ci pat e no such mi schance, and t r ust

t hat t he same ki nd Pr ovi dence whi ch has wat ched over me

t hr ough so many t housand mi l es of t r avel t hus f ar , wi l l

r est or e me once mor e t o t hose whom I so dear l y l ove i n ol d

Engl and ; and who, I know, wi l l r emember me wher e I

desi r e t o be r emember ed by t hem i n t hei r pr ayer s.

CHAP. vi . HOMEWARD BOUND. 145

" I have now j ust a week mor e t o spend i n t hi s count r y.

I hope t o sai l f or Engl and on Wednesday, Oct ober 4t h, al l

ar r angement s beyond t hat day t o r emai n as I have al r eady

f i xed t hem. I seem as i f I shoul d f eel l i ke a chi l d when I

get back t o Uf t on agai n, and f i nd mysel f sur r ounded by so

many dear f ami l i ar f aces, and pl easant scenes. Fi ve mont hs

sol i t ar y t r avel have been qui t e enough f or me, and I am

f ai r l y home- si ck, and count t he days i mpat i ent l y. Ther e ar e

but seven mor e ni ght s and days, bef or e I shal l set my f ace

t owar ds t he ' East Count r y ; ' and i n a f or t ni ght mor e I shal l

hope t o be an i nmat e of my ol d home agai n.

" I have r ecei ved an i mmense deal of ki ndness, f i r st and

l ast , i n Amer i ca ; I must const i t ut e mysel f i n r et ur n a sor t of

gener al host of al l Amer i cans vi si t i ng Engl and. I wi sh t he

t wo count r i es under st ood one anot her r at her bet t er , and wer e

mor e i ncl i ned t o be f r i ends. As i t i s t he host i l e f eel i ng of

Amer i cans gener al l y t owar ds Engl and seems t o me as i n-

t ense as ever : i ndeed, j ust now, f or some r eason or ot her ,

t he newspaper s i n a body seem t o be engaged i n f anni ng t he

f l ame. They have j ust got hol d of a l i st of about a dozen

subscr i ber s t o t he Conf eder at e Loan, among whom i s W. E.

Gl adst one, t o my sur pr i se, down f or 2, ooo/ . 1 Thi s, as you

mi ght expect , i s a t opi c f or exci t ed ' edi t or i al s, ' and t he cr y

i s t hat t he Amer i can Gover nment ought t o demand hi s

di smi ssal f r om t he Engl i sh Mi ni st r y. And so t hey r un on ;

t he mer est t r i f l e becomi ng f ear f ul l y exagger at ed, and addi ng

f uel t o t he f l ame. I t ' s a gr eat pi t y ! "

Shi p " Aust r al asi an" at Sea, Oct ober i $t h, 1865. " The

passenger s ar e a ver y mi xed l ot , t he bul k of t hem bei ng men

Page 44 of 87

1 Thi s was a mi st ake of t he Amer i cans and t he Bi shop. On t he pub-

l i cat i on of t hi s Li f e Mr . W. E. Gl adst one at once wr ot e t o deny t hat he

ever had hel d t hi s or any ot her sum i n Conf eder at e St ock. The hol der

was Mr . W. Gl adst one, head of t he f i r m of Thomson, Bonar & Co.

146 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

i n t r ade at New Yor k, whose t al k i s chi ef l y of ' dr y goods'

and ' dol l ar s. ' But I get on pr et t y wel l i n al most al l com-

pani es ; and as t hey ar e i nt el l i gent and wel l - i nf or med i n

t hei r own depar t ment s, I can t al k wi t h most of t hem wi t h

pl easur e and pr of i t . I have a ver y good ber t h, near l y ami d-

shi ps ; and t he ' St at e r oom ' i s t wi ce as l ar ge as t hat whi ch

hel d t wo of us on t he Scot i a. My compani on i s an I ndi an

Of f i cer ( Madr as) of t he i o5t h Foot , Capt ai n Br adi sh a ver y

pl easant , accommodat i ng man, wi t h whom I get on, as t he

Amer i cans say, ' f i r st - r at e. '

" We had ser vi ce on boar d on Sunday, and I of f i ci at ed. I

had a good congr egat i on, i ncl udi ng a consi der abl e spr i nkl i ng

Qi j ews. My ser mon, whi ch was on t he subj ect of good- wi l l

bet ween nat i ons, appear ed t o gi ve sat i sf act i on, and sever al

peopl e expr essed t hei r gr at i f i cat i on at t he ser vi ce al t oget her .

On t hese occasi ons onl y a smal l pr opor t i on per haps bel ong

t o, or ar e f ami l i ar wi t h t he r i t ual of , t he Chur ch of Engl and.

Her e t her e wer e Jews, Pr esbyt er i ans, Met hodi st s, &c. , so

t hat I was r at her pl eased t o hear t hem expr ess t hemsel ves

as bei ng comf or t ed by t he ser vi ce. "

Li ver pool , Sunday, Oct ober \ $t h. " Her e I am, saf e,

sound, and wel l . We ar r i ved at our moor i ngs at 8. 30 A. M. ,

and I l anded at t he l andi ng st age, t o be wel comed by dear

ol d Al ex, at 10. 30. I wi shed t o have been i n t i me f or

chur ch ; but was del ayed by t he l uggage, whi ch had t o be

l ooked af t er , and as we l eave f or Manchest er at 2. 15, t hi s

wi l l be a br oken Sunday. My hear t however i s not t he l ess

t hankf ul t o t he Gocd Pr ovi dence whi ch has wat ched over

me al l t hese l ast si x mont hs, and has now br ought me saf el y

t o Engl i sh soi l agai n.

" Tel l Meacher t o come t o meet us i n t he dog- car t wi t h

t he mar e, and Char l es t o br i ng t he car t wi t h Monmout h f or

CHAP. vi . REPORT. 147

t he baggage, whi ch wi l l be a l i t t l e ponder ous. As t he mar e

wi l l not have been i n har ness f or some t i me, t el l Meacher

t o exer ci se her wel l bef or e st ar t i ng, or she may be t r oubl e-

some. "

Space cannot be spar ed f or mor e t han a f ew shor t ext r act s

f r om t he concl usi ons of hi s Repor t on t he Amer i can School s.

Some of t hese he modi f i ed i n af t er year s :

" I f peopl e suppose t hat ever y Amer i can r at e- suppor t ed

school i s i n a st at e of ef f i ci ency t hey ar e si mpl y l abour i ng

under an ent i r e mi sconcept i on. " The subdi vi si on of t own-

shi ps i nt o school di st r i ct s he pr ot est ed agai nst as a most

mi schi evous st ep, as by i t t he school s f el l a pr ey t o

pol i t i ci ans.

Page 45 of 87

The syst em of ai d f r om t he r at es, " l eads by mor al and

l ogi cal necessi t y t o pur e secul ar educat i on. Ther e i s no

mi ddl e cour se, unhappi l y, bet ween pur el y secul ar and pur el y

denomi nat i onal educat i on. " . . " The r esul t of t hi s i nqui r y

woul d make me l ess host i l e t o pur el y secul ar educat i on

( whi ch I am f ar f r om t hi nki ng t he Amer i can publ i c school

educat i on i s) t han i t woul d have t en year s ago. Our r el i gi ous

t eachi ng has not pr oduced r el i gi ous i nt el l i gence or st abi l i t y

i n our peopl e. " . . " I have r educed t he so- cal l ed r el i gi ous

i nst r uct i on i n my school t o a mi ni mum. " . . " Speaki ng f or

mysel f I shoul d not shr i nk f r om t aki ng what I concei ve t o be

my pr oper pl ace as a cl er gyman i n r el at i on t o t he school ,

even under a syst em of secul ar educat i on. I shoul d nei t her

despai r of Chr i st i ani t y nor mor al i t y. The Sunday school

woul d st ar t out of i t s pr esent l et har gy. At any r at e r el i gi ous

t r ut h i n t he al one sense i n whi ch ever y one pr i zes i t i . e. i n

hi s own sense woul d not have t o be compr omi sed, adj ust ed,

t r i mmed, par ed down. " . . " I shar e t he r egr et of t he super -

L 2

148 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I .

i nt endent s of educat i on i n Pennsyl vani a and Upper Canada,

t hat t he cl er gy as a body st and al oof f r om t he school s. I

coul d st i l l wi t h a good consci ence co- oper at e as a cl er gyman

wi t h a scheme of educat i on whi ch t o many woul d seem t he

ext r emest and most l ament abl e change of al l . " . . " The

cl er gyman, i f he car ed t o t each i n a school at al l , mi ght f i nd

t hat he coul d est abl i sh as cor di al and hopef ul r el at i ons

bet ween hi msel f and t he younger member s of hi s f l ock

t hr ough t he medi um of a l esson i n ar i t hmet i c or gr ammar ,

as t hr ough a l esson occupi ed wi t h t he t er ms or f or mul ae of

dogmat i c or pol emi cal t heol ogy. "

" I hope, " t he r epor t concl udes, " no r eader wi l l t hi nk I am

cat chi ng at an oppor t uni t y of obt r udi ng my own opi ni ons.

The i nqui r y I have conduct ed has hel ped power f ul l y, i f not

t o f or m, at any r at e t o mat ur e t hem. And, as par t s of t he

f r ui t s of t hat i nqui r y, I t hought I mi ght wi t hout ar r ogance,

and i ndeed t hat i n honest y I ought t o, l ay t hem bef or e t he

wor l d. "

CHAPTER VI I .

" For bet t er i t i s t hat i t be sai d unt o t hee, Come up hi t her ; t han t hat

t hou shoul dest be put l ower i n t he pr esence of t he pr i nce whom t hi ne

eyes have seen. " PROV. xxv. v. 7.

UFTON NERVET AND THE AGRI CULTURAL CHI LDREN' S

COMMI SSI ON. 1866 1870.

1866.

Hi s r epor t on t he school s of t he Uni t ed St at es was sent

i n ear l y i n 1866, and f r om t hat t i me i t i s cl ear t hat he was

mar ked out f or pr omot i on. Not onl y had he pr oved hi m-

sel f by hi s st r i ct l y pr of essi onal wor k, one who came ver y

near l y up t o t he i deal of a Chr i st i an mi ni st er a spi r i t ual

capt ai n, " an enl i ght ener of dai l y l i f e, one who i s br i ngi ng

down dai l y l i ght f r om heaven i nt o t he l i f e of t hei r peopl e, "

but hi s r epor t s as an Educat i onal Commi ssi oner had

gai ned hi m an al most unr i val l ed r eput at i on as a man capabl e

of gr appl i ng successf ul l y wi t h t he many di f f i cul t pr obl ems of

Page 46 of 87

t he quest i on, whi ch was begi nni ng t o exer ci se, mor e t han

al most any ot her , t he mi nds of publ i c men. We shal l soon

see i ndi cat i ons of t he est eem i n whi ch he was now hel d i n

hi gh quar t er s. Meant i me he was qui et l y back agai n i n hi s

Uf t on home wi t h hi s mot her and aunt , engaged i n br i ngi ng

up house and gar den, st abl e and gl ebe, chur ch and school s,

t o t he hi ghest st andar d of or der and ef f i ci ency, f r om whi ch

t hey had sl i ght l y l apsed dur i ng hi s absence i n Amer i ca.

These, wi t h occasi onal wor k as exami ner at Oxf or d, or one

150 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

and anot her of t he publ i c school s ( whi ch i ndeed he had

never dr opped) made t he next year at Uf t on pass swi f t l y

and happi l y.

To Mr . Mozl ey. Jul y $r d, 1866. " Anyt hi ng you wi sh

me t o do i n t he way of car r yi ng out your benevol ent i nt en-

t i ons t o Mr s. Mar sh " [ a poor woman, who, wi t h her chi l dr en

had f ol l owed hi m f r om Chol der t on] " I wi l l gl adl y under t ake.

She had al r eady t ol d me of your ext r eme l i ber al i t y t owar ds

her . I don' t see much change i n her , poor t hi ng. She has

her bad and good days, and I don' t suppose any medi cal

man woul d guar ant ee her l i f e f or mor e t han f r om week t o

week. Har r i et " [ Mr s. Mar sh' s daught er ] " came home

f r om Sal i sbur y on Sat ur day. She di d r emar kabl y wel l at

t he Chr i st mas Exami nat i on, and I hear a good account of

her at t he Tr ai ni ng School . I f anyt hi ng shoul d happen t o

my pr esent school mi st r ess ( and she i s engaged t o be mar r i ed)

I shoul d l i ke Har r i et t o succeed her . I managed t o get

Edgar t aken i nt o ser vi ce as a pupi l t eacher at Br adf i el d

School . He has not yet passed hi s exami nat i on, but wi l l

have t o do so i n t he cour se of t hi s mont h. I have no f ear s

of hi s success. Hi s sal ar y i s t o be i 2/ . f or t he f i r st year ,

i ncr easi ng i / . a year t o t he end of hi s f i ve year s' t er m. I

have been a good deal away f r om home l at el y, exami ni ng.

I spent a week i n Oxf or d, on t he Cr aven Schol ar shi p : t he

next at Maccl esf i el d, and t he l ast at Ti ver t on. Now I am

come home, l i ke you, t o be qui et . Can' t you dr i ve over

Mr s. Mozl ey some day t owar ds t he end of t he mont h, and

have an ear l y di nner , and a chat , and a game of cr oquet ?

At pr esent I am r at her i n a l i t t er , f or I am put t i ng up a new

gr eenhouse, and some heat i ng pi t s, &c. Thi s f i ni shed, I

shal l make no mor e addi t i ons t o t he pr emi ses, but cont ent

mysel f wi t h keepi ng t hi ngs t i dy. "

CHAP. vi i . " ECCE HOMO. " 151

To t he Same. " I hear d of Mr . Jenni ngs " [ t he Ti mes'

cor r espondent ] " when I was i n Amer i ca f r om Bi shop

Whi ppl e " [ of Mi nnesot a, who shar ed hi s st at e r oom on t he

out war d voyage] " but di d not see hi m. I saw however

but onl y saw hi s pr edecessor , Dr . Mackay, at Mont r eal .

I was not dr awn t owar ds hi m, because t o say t he t r ut h, I

coul d not but at t r i but e t o t he vi ci ous t one of hi s l et t er s

much of t he i l l - wi l l t owar ds Engl and, t hat I f ound al most

uni ver sal l y exi st i ng i n t he mi nds of Amer i cans. Mr .

Jenni ngs has succeeded i n speaki ng t he t r ut h ( t hough, I can

see, wi t h some l i t t l e bi as) and yet i n avoi di ng unnecessar y

i r r i t at i on. I can' t bear t he t hought of bad bl ood i n t he

r el at i ons bet ween t he t wo count r i es ; and t her e i s so much

t o admi r e i n t he Amer i can char act er , t hat one can af f or d

t o over l ook t \ i Q f aucce macul ce, whi ch cer t ai nl y ar e bl emi shes

i n t he eyes of an Engl i shman. By t he way, I wonder i f you

Page 47 of 87

woul d car e t o r ead, or r at her di p i nt o, my r epor t on t hei r

school s, because i f so, I have t hr ee or f our copi es ci r cu-

l at i ng amongst my f r i ends, and woul d di r ect one i n t he

cour se of i t s t r avel s t o cal l at Fi nchampst ead. By t he way,

I saw a l et t er t he ot her day f r om Longmans' head man, i n

whi ch i t was st at ed t hat opi ni on i n London was gener al l y

set t l i ng down t o t he bel i ef t hat Chr et i en was t he aut hor of

Ecce Homo. Judgi ng f r om i nt er nal evi dence I cannot be-

l i eve i t . Ther e ar e passages i n t he book whi ch I cannot

concei ve as pr oceedi ng f r om Chr et i en' s r ever ent mi nd. "

To t he Same. " Yes, young Or i el i s not qui t e l i ke what

i t was i n your day, or even i n my own ear l i er t i me. I am

af r ai d t he col l ege, soci al l y speaki ng, i s sadl y di sor gani sed,

and no t wo f el l ows can be got t o agr ee i n opi ni on even as

t o how t he f abr i c, whi ch i s get t i ng i nt o a mi ser abl e pl i ght ,

shal l be r epai r ed. Par ker , who i s an ar t i st of no mean

152 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

power , i s f or r est or i ng i n br i ck I bel i eve, and I am not sur e

but what t he advi ce i s good. I t i s i nt er est i ng t o hear what

you say about Newman. I shoul d t hi nk, as you wr i t e, t hat

he i s changed i n not hi ng but i n vi ews. Cer t ai nl y hi s hear t

seems as war m t owar ds ol d f r i ends, and hi s i nt el l ect as keen

and t r enchant as ever . Now I l ook agai n at your MS. I

am not sur e t hat I have deci pher ed you cor r ect l y. Per haps

you wr ot e ' mor e changed i n voi ce ( not vi ews) t han anyt hi ng

el se. ' I of t en f ancy some of your hi er ogl yphi cs must puzzl e

t he gent l emen i n Pr i nt i ng House Squar e. Ki nd r emem-

br ance f r om al l of us t o your wi f e. We have t hr ee nephews

spendi ng t hei r hol i days wi t h us, whi ch makes us a house

f ul l . " . . . " Poor ol d Meacher ! I woul d of f er t o pensi on

hi m, but i t woul d br eak hi s hear t . "

Hi s publ i c wor k had by t hi s t i me at t r act ed t he at t ent i on

of t he di spenser s of t he hi ghest pat r onage. He was f i r st

made awar e of t he f act by t he unl ooked- f or of f er of t he

Bi shopr i c of Cal cut t a, whi ch came t o hi m on t he 7t h of

December , i n t he f ol l owi ng l et t er f r om Mr . ( now Si r John)

Movvbr ay, an ol d f r i end and nei ghbour , t hen Under

Secr et ar y at t he For ei gn Of f i ce :

" MY DEAR FRASER,

" I am commi ssi oned by Lor d Cr anbour ne t o make

you t he of f er of t he Bi shopr i c of Cal cut t a. Dur i ng t he

l ast t en days he has consi der ed sever al names, and he

t hi nks you t he f i t t est man. I si ncer el y hope you may

f eel your sel f abl e t o accept i t . I wr i t e wi t h ver y mi xed

f eel i ngs. I have l ong t hought you had such speci al

capaci t i es f or doi ng good i n your gener at i on, t hat your

spher e of act i on ought not t o be l i mi t ed t o a count r y

vi car age. I have wi shed t o see you an Engl i sh Bi shop,

and I t ol d Cr anbour ne so. I shal l be sor r y t o see you

CHAP. vi l . BI SHOPRI C OF CALCUTTA. 153

l eave Engl and ; but t hi s i s a gr eat openi ng. I ndi a i s a

nobl e f i el d f or l abour , and I f ul l y bel i eve t hat you woul d

i n var i ous ways combi ne i mpor t ant qual i f i cat i ons f or t he

post . You ar e i n pr i me vi gour of mi nd and body. You

br i ng schol ar shi p, a var i ed exper i ence of men, consi der abl e

knowl edge of educat i on i n ever y r ank and condi t i on of l i f e,

Page 48 of 87

gr eat power s of expr essi ng your sel f bot h i n t he pul pi t and

on t he pl at f or m, and above al l a t hor ough l ove of t he t r ut h,

and a geni al , hear t y, conci l i at or y spi r i t . I bel i eve you woul d

di schar ge your dut i es i n a way t o r ef l ect cr edi t on your

appoi nt ment , but I don' t l i ke t he t hought of t he pang i t

woul d cause Mr s. Fr aser t o see you l eave Engl and. As

Mr s. Mowbr ay obser ved, we al most appear t o be t r ai t or s i n

seeki ng t o di st ur b t he r epose of your happy home, and I

cannot t el l you how we shal l al l mi ss our happy Sundays at

Uf t on, and how l i t t l e hope I shal l have of seei ng such a

man agai n near us. But t hi s I know i s sur e t o be some

day i n any case. I t i s onl y Cal cut t a, or somewher e el se.

I t seems t o me a speci al cal l , and I am sur e you wi l l t hi nk

i t wel l over . I hope t o be at home al l t o- mor r ow. I f you

l i ke t o come over I shal l be i n unt i l l uncheon, or at t wo I

wi l l come over t o you. I shoul d much l i ke t o t al k i t over

wi t h you.

" Your s si ncer el y,

" J. MOWBRAY. "

To Mr . Mozl ey. December , 26^ / 1, 1866. " Lor d Cr an-

bour ne, who i s a per f ect st r anger t o me, has of f er ed me t he

Bi shopr i c of Cal cut t a, and af t er l ong and ser i ous debat e of

t he mat t er wi t h mysel f I have decl i ned i t . Some of my

f r i ends t hi nk I have done wr ong, ot her s appr ove my choi ce.

My mai n r easons ( over and above a st r ong per sonal sense

of i nsuf f i ci ency) wer e ( i ) t hat I t hought mysel f t oo ol d at

154 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

f or t y- ei ght t o commence such a car eer ; ( 2) t hat I was af r ai d

of t he cl i mat e, whi ch has t ol d ser i ousl y on t he const i t ut i ons

of al l my br ot her s who have ser ved t her e ; ( 3) t hat I coul d

not per suade mysel f t o br eak up my home, and t ur n my

mot her and aunt at t hei r age adr i f t upon t he wor l d. Of

cour se t he wor k and t he posi t i on of f er ed many at t r act i ons,

and wer e al l t hat my zeal or ambi t i on coul d desi r e, and I

was af r ai d I mi ght be shr i nki ng back f r om sl ot h and l ove

of ease. But now t hat I have made up my mi nd, I t hi nk I

have deci ded r i ght l y and f or t he best ; i t has however been

a cr i si s i n my l i f e t hat such an oppor t uni t y was ever pl aced

wi t hi n my r each. I had a l et t er yest er day f r om John Wal t er ,

who I was gl ad t o f i nd has r et ur ned home saf e, and sound,

and pl eased wi t h what he has seen [ i n Amer i ca] . He

asked me t o l et hi m r ead my r epor t on t he Amer i can

school s whi l e hi s own i mpr essi ons of t hem ar e f r esh, and I

have sent hi m a copy. I don' t know whet her you car e t o

see i t bef or e i t comes back t o me, i f you shoul d you ar e at

per f ect l i ber t y t o bor r ow i t , onl y as i t i s my onl y compl et e

copy, I must ask f or i t agai n. "

To Sal e, on t he of f er of Cal cut t a. Uf t on, December i j t / t ,

1866. " I f el t mysel f t oo ol d, I dr eaded t he cl i mat e, hot

weat her ( as I f ound l ast year i n Amer i ca) al ways mor e or l ess

i ncapaci t at i ng me f or exer t i on, ment al as wel l as bodi l y. I

had a mi sgi vi ng of my capaci t y f or t he wor k ; I am a poor

l i ngui st ; I do not f eel sur e t hat I shoul d make a good

admi ni st r at or ; I shr i nk f r om havi ng t o speak wi t h aut hor i t y

upon some of t he vexed quest i ons on whi ch my own mi nd i s

st i l l unr esol ved. And so I cal ml y, but af t er anxi ous del i ber -

at i on, put t he of f er away. I t i s r at her si ngul ar t hat t he

bi shopr i c was pr evi ousl y of f er ed t o Kay, who f r om t he wor k

he has done i n I ndi a was cl ear l y ent i t l ed t o t he compl i ment ,

Page 49 of 87

CHAP. vi i . A BI SHOP' S REBUKE. 155

t hough i n hi s br oken heal t h i t coul d har dl y be consi der ed

anyt hi ng mor e ; and t hus t wo men who ent er ed col l ege t he

same day have each had t he chance of bei ng Met r opol i t an

of I ndi a, a posi t i on pr oud enough t o sat i sf y t he l egi t i mat e

ambi t i ons of any man. "

1867.

To Mr . Tooke. Januar y znd, 1867, / / / answer t o quest i ons

as t o hi s r easons. " My convi ct i on i s even st r onger t han i t

was, t hat , even i f I had been i nt el l ect ual l y and spi r i t ual l y

equal t o t he wor k, my bodi l y st r engt h woul d have f ai l ed me

i n t hat cl i mat e ; and i t woul d have been i nexpr essi bl y pai nf ul

t o me t o f i nd out , t hat I had gi ven up wor k t o whi ch I was

equal f or ot her whi ch was t oo much f or me. . . . I f ear

our dear Bi shop i s heapi ng up di ocesan t r oubl es f or hi msel f ,

especi al l y f r om t he l ai t y. I t was an unl ucky moment when

he f el t moved t o r ebuke S. G. O. ( wor t hy as he was of

ani madver si on) i n a publ i c pr i nt . Yet , al l he does spr i ngs

f r om such hi gh and si mpl e mot i ves, t hat i f t he wor l d wer e

onl y a l i t t l e mor e t ol er ant , and a l i t t l e f ai r er i n i t s j udgment s

hi s conduct woul d not be mi sconst r ued. What I l ament

most i s t hat I f ear hi s mi nd and convi ct i ons ar e f or mi ng

t hemsel ves mor e and mor e on a pat t er n whi ch i s not t hat of

t he t hought s and f eel i ngs of hi s age. I f a man i s whol l y

out of gear wi t h hi s t i me, he cannot i nf l uence. And t hat i s

what I f ear f or t he Bi shop, a l oss of i nf l uence. "

Of t he Cal cut t a of f er Dean Chur ch wr ot e : " I do not

doubt t hat you have j udged wi sel y under t he ci r cumst ances,

but I cannot hel p f eel i ng sor r y t hat so pr omi si ng a combi na-

t i on of pl ace and man has not been possi bl e. "

To Mr . Tooke. Febr uar y 13^ , 1867, af t er congr at ul at i ons

on hi s mar r i age. " Our homes ar e peacef ul enough, but

156 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i .

st or ms seem br ewi ng i n al l di r ect i ons i n t he out er wor l d,

i n Chur ch and St at e, and no pi l ot has yet shown hi msel f

wi t h capaci t y t o weat her t hem. We seem t o be appr oachi ng

t he dest r uct i ve epoch of Engl i sh hi st or y; and r evol ut i on

wi t h no pr i nci pl es of r econst r uct i on i s t he or der of t he day.

I want t o see a gr eat ef f or t made t o r eal l y popul ar i se t he

Chur ch and educat i on. The masses ar e host i l e t o t he one

and i ndi f f er ent t o t he ot her . Why i s t hi s ? and why ar e we

cl er gy so mi sr epr esent ed ( as by Gol dwi n Smi t h who never

mi sses a chance of havi ng a shot at us) and so mi sunder -

st ood ? Her e have I , f or i nst ance, been wor ki ng t hr ee

ni ght s a week f or f i f t een weeks t hi s wi nt er , wi t h t went y - f our

ni ght schol ar s, not one of whom, I vent ur e t o say, f eel s

anyt hi ng l i ke gr at i t ude t o me f or my t r oubl e, or f anci es t hat

I have done anyt hi ng t o deser ve t hanks I don' t want

t hanks, but I wi sh t hey f el t I had r eal l y been l abour i ng f or

t hei r good. Thi s i s but a t ype of a t housand ot her t hi ngs,

but I must n' t cr oak i n a l et t er meant t o car r y f el i ci t at i ons. "

To Mr . Mozl ey. Jul y, 1867, " I hope you won' t gi ve up

al t oget her your connect i on wi t h Pr i nt i ng House Squar e. I t

woul d be l i ke a man who has been a har d dr i nker , gi vi ng up

wi ne and spi r i t s al l at once and so ki l l i ng hi msel f . I wei ghed

t he ot her day and was f r i ght ened t o f i nd mysel f f our t een and

Page 50 of 87

a hal f st one, and st eadi l y i ncr easi ng, I f ear , i n wei ght . "

I n t he ear l y aut umn he was appoi nt ed a Commi ssi oner

on t he Chi l dr en' s Empl oyment Commi ssi on, f or t he sout h-

east er n di st r i ct . As usual , he wr ot e j our nal l et t er s t o hi s

mot her , f r om whi ch t he f ol l owi ng ar e ext r act s :

" I was pl eased t o hear so much bet t er an account of

Chevi t hor ne " [ a new hor se] . " I t hi nk Br own may as wel l

go on wi t h hi m, and now t hat he i s put t i ng hi m i nt o doubl e

CHAP. vn. H. M. ' S COMMI SSI ONER. 157

har ness, I hope he won' t have much mor e di f f i cul t y. Al l

har ness- hor ses ought t o be br oken f i r st t o doubl e har ness, by;

t he si de of an ol d st eady hor se ; but Chevi t hor ne di d so wel l

t he t wo days he was out wi t h me, t hat I har dl y t hought i t

woul d have been necessar y i n hi s case. The young gent l e-

man however seems t o have a wi l l of hi s own, whi ch I hope

Br own wi l l be abl e t o subdue by gent l eness. How ar e t he

i nval i ds of t he par i sh ? Kedger ee i s a capi t al t hi ng f or

br eakf ast . I i ncl ose a r ecei pt t o be copi ed i nt o our book.

" I f i nd I get on pr et t y wel l wi t h my wor k, and t he f ar mer s

ar e ver y ci vi l , and, t hough I hear some of t hem have st r ange

i deas of hi s f unct i ons, pay gr eat r espect t o ' Her Maj est y' s

Commi ssi oner . ' I was t ol d yest er day t hat some of t hem

t hought I was come t o di ver t t he t i t he f r om t he par sons, and

t o doubl e wi t h i t t he wages of t he agr i cul t ur al l abour er . "

Nor wi ch, Jul y i 2t h, 1867. " I qui t e agr ee wi t h you t hat

poor Br uno" [ an ol d dog] " woul d be bet t er put out of hi s

mi ser y. Thomas Pear ce woul d shoot hi m, or Mr . Thoyt s' s

keeper , and he coul d be bur i ed at t he r oot of some t r ee.

Hi s l i f e, I am sur e, i s a bur den t o hi m.

" I am vexed t hat Br own hasn' t come up yet t o dr i ve

Chevi t hor ne. I f he del ays l onger , l et Meacher r i de down

af t er hi m ; ot her wi se t he hor se wi l l f or get t he l i t t l e t r ai ni ng

t hat I gave hi m.

" I dar e say t he bi l l f or t he soi l f r om t he London seeds -

man i s al l r i ght , and you had bet t er pay i t , and t el l James t o

be car ef ul not t o wast e ei t her t he peat or t he cocoa f i br e.

" I hope t he t ea wi l l t ur n out good, I have no doubt t he

pr oper quant i t i es ar e sent . A 1 2 I b. cani st er at 2s. , anot her

at 2s. 6d. ; 2 I bs. f l ower y pekoe, f or mi xi ng, at 3^ . 6d. , and

31 I bs. cof f ee at i s. 8 p. 101.

" At al l t i mes a man who woul d do f ai t hf ul l y must bel i eve

f i r ml y. " CARLYLE.

PART I I .

CHAPTER I .

" Who i s t he happy war r i or ? who i s he

Whom ever y i nan- at - ar ms woul d wi sh t o be?

I t i s t he gener ous spi r i t , who, when br ought

Among t he t asks of r eal l i f e, hat h wr ought

Page 51 of 87

Upon t he pl an t hat pl eased hi s chi l di sh t hought . "

WORDSWORTH.

THE TRANSI TI ON.

1870.

THE document whi ch was t o al t er t he whol e cour se and

char act er of t he l i f e of t hi s cont ent ed and happy count r y

par son r an as f ol l ows :

" Hawar den Cast l e, Januar y $r d, 1870. DEAR MR.

FRASER, I wr i t e t o pl ace t he See of Manchest er at your

di sposal . I wi l l not enumer at e t he l ong l i st of qual i f i cat i ons

over and above ent i r e devot edness t o t he sacr ed cal l i ng,

f or whi ch I ear nest l y seek i n t he sel ect i on of any name t o

submi t t o Her Maj est y wi t h r ef er ence t o any vacant

bi shopr i c. But I must say wi t h per f ect t r ut h t hat i t i s

wi t h r ef er ence t o qual i f i cat i ons onl y t hat I make t he

pr esent over t ur e. As r espect s t he par t i cul ar See, i t i s your

i nt er est i n and mast er y of t he quest i on of publ i c educat i on

whi ch has l ed me t o bel i eve you mi ght per f or m at Man-

chest er , wi l h r ef er ence t o t hat quest i on, a most i mpor t ant

wor k f or t he Chur ch and f or t he count r y. Manchest er i s

184 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

t he cent r e of t he moder n l i f e of t he count r y. I cannot

exagger at e t he i mpor t ance of t he See, or t he wei ght and

f or ce of t he demands i t wi l l make on t he ener gi es of a

bi shop, and on hi s spi r i t of sel f - sacr i f i ce. You wi l l , I hope

not r ecoi l f r om t hem, and I t r ust t hat st r engt h t o meet t hem

al l wi l l be gi ven you i n abundance.

" Bel i eve me f ai t hf ul l y your s,

" W. E. G. "

I t i s not easy t o see how a gr eat char ge coul d be of f er ed

mor e honour abl y, or at t he same t i me wi t h l ess of gi l di ng.

No wonder t hat i t shoul d have st agger ed t he r eci pi ent f or

t he moment , br i ngi ng hi m as i t di d t hus suddenl y f ace

t o f ace wi t h t he " demands " so t er sel y i ndi cat ed i n t he

Pr emi er ' s of f er . He r epl i ed :

" Uf t on, Januar y $t h, 1870. DEAR SI R, Your l et t er , and

t he ut t er l y unexpect ed of f er i t cont ai ns, has pr of oundl y

moved me. Am I maki ng an unr easonabl e r equest i n

aski ng t o be al l owed a week t o consi der t he answer I

ought t o gi ve t o i t ? My f i r st i mpul se was, f r om a most

r eal and unaf f ect ed consci ousness of unwor t hi ness, t o decl i ne.

But pr obabl y ever y one t o whom such an of f er was made

woul d have t he same f eel i ng at f i r st ; and my l i f e, as I r ead

i t , seems t o have been such a successi on of pr ovi dences t hat

my second t hought was, t hat by r ef usi ng t o ent er on a wi der

spher e of usef ul ness I mi ght be dr awi ng back f r om a cal l .

Happi l y I have no desi r e f or ei t her weal t h or r ank, nor any

ambi t i on beyond t hat of wi shi ng t o be as usef ul a ci t i zen

bot h of t he r eal m of Engl and, and of t he ki ngdom of our

Lor d, as I have power t o be. I qui t e f eel al l t hat you so

j ust l y say about t he nobl e oppor t uni t i es of f er ed by such a

di ocese as Manchest er . Al l I mi st r ust i s my own adequacy

Page 52 of 87

CHAP. I . HESI TATI ON. 185

t o t hem. I shoul d wi sh t her ef or e f or t i me t o t ake counsel

wi t h some of my f r i ends who have known me l ongest , and

by whose j udgment I shoul d l i ke t o be gui ded i n a mat t er

of t hi s ki nd my Pr ovost , Dr . Hawki ns, Chur ch, Li ddon,

Edwar d Hami l t on, et c. ; f or t i me al so t o t hi nk over so

i mpor t ant a st ep i mpor t ant not onl y t o my own happi ness,

but t o t he hi ghest i nt er est s of an i mper i l l ed Chur ch at an

anxi ous t i me cal ml y wi t h my own f ami l y, and ear nest l y as

i n t he si ght of God. I humbl y t r ust I shal l be gui ded ar i ght .

At pr esent I need say no mor e t han t hat I wi l l not al l ow

any mer el y per sonal consi der at i on of ease, or comf or t , or

ambi t i on t o det er mi ne my r esol ve. Wi t h a deep sense not

onl y of what i s i mpl i ed i n your of f er , but of t he manner i n

whi ch i t has been conveyed,

" I beg t o r emai n, my dear Si r ,

" Your s most f ai t hf ul l y,

" JAMES FRASER. "

" Hawar den, Januar y i t / i , 1870. MY DEAR SI R, I

have r ecei ved your l et t er , whi ch does you so much honour

i n ever y sense, and I accede of cour se t o your r equest , onl y

addi ng t hat I am sur e you wi l l r ender t he i nt er val as shor t

as you possi bl y can.

" I am, et c. , et c. ,

" W. E. GLADSTONE. "

Ant i ci pat i ng t he Pr emi er ' s r epl y, Er aser had al r eady, wi t h

hi s usual pr ompt ness, wr i t t en t o ni ne of hi s f r i ends f or t hei r

counsel .

That t o Mr . Tooke, t he onl y one appar ent l y whi ch has

been pr eser ved, was as f ol l ows :

" Pr i vat e. UJt on, Januar y 6t / i , 1870. I am i n a gr ave

per pl exi t y, and want t he honest counsel of si ncer e f r i ends.

186 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

Gl adst one, i n a most t ouchi ng and gener ous way, has of f er ed

me t he bi shopr i c of Manchest er . On al l per sonal gr ounds

I shoul d at once shr i nk f r om such a per i l ous r esponsi bi l i t y ;

but second t hought s t el l me t hat , i n doi ng so, I mi ght be

shr i nki ng f r om a cal l , and t hat per sonal consi der at i ons ought

t o be over bal anced by t he cl ai ms of publ i c dut y. So I have

asked f or a week t o consi der t he mat t er cal ml y, as bef or e

God, and t o t ake - counsel wi t h my f r i ends. Wi t hout any

undue or af f ect ed depr eci at i on of my own power s, I am

pr of oundl y sensi bl e of my i nadequacy t o t he wor k of a

bi shop at t he pr esent t i me. The per f ect concept i on of a

bi shop i s of one who can l ead men, i nspi r e and sust ai n

wor k, r epai r br eaches, r econci l e di f f er ences, mi t i gat e bi t t er -

nesses, hel p men t o t he sol ut i on of t he pr obl ems t hat hol d

t he r eason and even t he consci ence somet i mes, i n suspense.

No one can be mor e awar e of my unf i t ness f or t he mor e

di f f i cul t par t s of such wor k t han I am mysel f . But who i s

suf f i ci ent ? At any r at e, i f you know any cause or j ust

i mpedi ment and you know me i nt us et i n cut e don' t l et

me t ake a st ep whi ch must be i r r evocabl e, and whi ch may

be f ul l of t he gr avest consequences, not t o mysel f mer el y,

Page 53 of 87

but t o t he Chur ch of Chr i st don' t l et me t ake t he st ep

unwar ned. We have known one anot her l ong enough t o

speak t he t r ut h f ace t o f ace, and I have no such hanker i ng

af t er r ank, or weal t h, or a mor e conspi cuous st at i on, as t o

desi r e t o be pl aced i n a post , t he dut i es of whi ch I shoul d

be f ound unequal t o di schar ge. Keep t hi s communi cat i on

i n conf i dence, t i l l I have made up my mi nd, hel p me wi t h

your counsel , and pr ay f or me t hat I may be gui ded t o a

r i ght concl usi on. "

Besi des wr i t i ng t o hi s di st ant f r i ends he went over t o

consul t Si r John Mowbr ay. " He came di r ect l y af t er br eak -

CHAP. I . ACCEPTANCE. 187

f ast wi t h Mr . Gl adst one' s l et t er i n hi s hand, " Si r John wr i t es,

" l ooki ng as pal e as a sheet . I r ead i t and sai d, ' You ar e

t he ver y man f or t he pl ace. ' He expr essed i n ver y st r ong

t er ms hi s unf i t ness. I r epl i ed, ' Mr . Gl adst one and I sel dom

agr ee on any subj ect , but our coi nci dence on t hi s i s r emar k -

abl e. I f you wi l l come i nt o t he dr awi ng- r oom and see my

wi f e, she wi l l t el l you t hat I sai d, year s ago, " i f I wer e Pr i me

Mi ni st er I woul d make Fr aser a Bi shop, and send hi m t o

Lancashi r e or t he Bl ack Count r y, as I t hi nk he i s

emi nent l y qual i f i ed t o i nf l uence such a popul at i on. " ' And

when i n 1867, Lor d Der by made Geor ge Sel wyn Bi shop of

Li chf i el d, I sai d t o my wi f e, ' t her e i s Manchest er st i l l l ef t

f or Fr aser . ' I pr essed hi m most st r ongl y t o accept , and he

sai d he woul d t ake a week t o consul t Chur ch, Li ddon, and

ot her s. "

Bef or e t he end of t he week he had asked f or he had made

up hi s mi nd t o accept t he Pr emi er ' s of f er .

" Uf t on, Januar y 8/ / / , 1870. MY DEAR SI R, Ther e i s

no advant age i n pr ol ongi ng unnecessar i l y a per i od of

suspense, and i t wi l l be even a r el i ef t o me, as wel l as an act

of due consi der at i on t o your sel f , t o appr i se you of my

r esol ve as soon as f or med. I consul t ed ni ne of my most

val ued f r i ends upon t he soundness of whose j udgment I

t hought I coul d r el y wi t h r ef er ence t o t hi s sol emn t r ust you

have of f er ed me, and I have yest er day and t o- day r ecei ved

answer s f r om t hem al l . Though men of ver y di f f er ent vi ews

and posi t i ons t hey uni t e i n t el l i ng me t hat I ought not t o

shr i nk f r om t he r esponsi bi l i t i es even of such a bi shopr i c as

Manchest er ; and encour age me t o bel i eve t hat , wi t h t he

good hand of my God upon me. I may be f ound not unequal

t o i t s char ge. And so, t hough I cannot quel l t he t hr obs

i SS LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

and mi sgi vi ngs of my own hear t , I seem t o have no al t er na-

t i ve but t o accept t he t r ust you ar e wi l l i ng t o commi t t o me.

I t wi l l be my desi r e, i f cal l ed upon t o admi ni st er t hi s gr eat

di ocese, t o do so i n a f i r m and i ndependent , but at t he same

t i me gener ous and sympat hi si ng, spi r i t . I never was, and

never coul d be, a par t i san. Even when seei ng my way most

cl ear l y I am al ways i ncl i ned t o gi ve cr edi t t o ot her s whose

vi ews may be di f f er ent f r om my own f or equal cl ear ness of

vi si on, cer t ai nl y f or equal honest y of pur pose. As l i t t l e of a

dogmat i st as i t i s possi bl e t o be, I yet see t he use, and

i ndeed t he necessi t y, of dogma ; but I have al ways wi shed

t o nar r ow, r at her t han t o ext end, i t s f i el d, because t he l ess

per empt or i l y ar t i cl es of f ai t h ar e i mposed or def i ned t he

Page 54 of 87

mor e hope t her e i s of el i ci t i ng agr eement s r at her t han

di f f er ences. Especi al l y have I been anxi ous t o see t he

Chur ch adapt her sel f mor e geni al l y and t r ust f ul l y t o t he

i nt el l ect ual aspi r at i ons of t he age, not st andi ng al oof i n a

t i mor ous or host i l e at t i t ude f r om t he spi r i t of sci ent i f i c

i nqui r y, but r at her endeavour i ng ( as i s her f unct i on) t o

t emper i t s ar dour wi t h t he spi r i t of r ever ence and godl y f ear .

And, f i nal l y, my gr eat desi r e wi l l be, wi t hout di sgui si ng my

own opi ni ons, or wi shi ng one set of mi nds t o under st and me

i n one sense and anot her k i n t he opposi t e, t o t hr ow mysel f

on t he hear t of t he whol e di ocese, of t he l ai t y as wel l as of

t he cl er gy, of t hose who di f f er f r om t he Chur ch as wel l as

t hose who conf or m t o her . I have a hi gh i deal of what a

bi shop of t he Chur ch of Engl and ought t o be an i deal

whi ch f or f i f t een year s of my l i f e i t was my happy pr i vi l ege

t o see ver y near l y r eal i sed, and t hough I am never l i kel y t o

at t ai n t o i t , I can at l east keep i t st eadi l y bef or e my eyes

and r each af t er i t . I f , af t er t hi s f r ank st at ement of what I

desi r e t o be, you st i l l t hi nk me qual i f i ed f or t he admi ni st r a-

t i on of such a di ocese, and as t he advi ser of t he Cr own t o

CHAP. i . APPOI NTMENT. 189

r ecommend me t o Her Maj est y, I shal l be pr epar ed, t hough

not wi t hout deep anxi et y, t o under t ake t he of f i ce, and wi l l

endeavour , by t he hel p of God, t o do my dut y. I n t he

event of my pr omot i on t he next pr esent at i on t o t he l i vi ng

whi ch I now hol d ( whi ch i s i n t he pat r onage of Or i el

Col l ege) wi l l of cour se pass t o t he Cr own. I shal l be gl ad

t o communi cat e any par t i cul ar s r espect i ng i t whi ch may be

desi r ed. I may br i ef l y say her e t hat f ew l i vi ngs can uni t e i n

t hemsel ves gr eat er advant ages. Wi t h a deep sense of t he

mot i ves whi ch you say have l ed you t o si ngl e me out f or t hi s

appoi nt ment , and a humbl e hope t hat I may not di sappoi nt

your expect at i ons,

" I r emai n, your s most f ai t hf ul l y,

" JAMES FRASER. "

" Hawar den, Januar y l o/ A, 1870. DEAR MR. FRASER,

I have r ecei ved your l et t er , and r ead i t wi t h sympat hy

and admi r at i on. Your appoi nt ment i s set t l ed as f ar as Her

Maj est y i s concer ned, and t he st eps wi l l now be t aken Tr ^ r

t he conge t Tel i r e. Shoul d you be i n t own af t er t he 2ot h or

2i st I shal l be happy t o see you, al t hough t he t r ansact i on

bet ween us as one of mer e busi ness i s concl uded.

" Bel i eve me, si ncer el y your s,

" W. E. G. "

To Mr . Tooke. Uf t on, Januar y l of / i , 1870. " Al l my

f r i ends' advi ce, I al most r egr et t o say, went one way, and

l ef t me no l oophol e of escape. I , t her ef or e, wr ot e t o

Gl adst one on Sat ur day, t hough st i l l wi t h a heavy hear t ,

CKWV acKovr t ye 6vp.

CHAP. I I . START I N LANCASHI RE. 199

deacons, and conf i r mi ng candi dat es, suppl ement ed by an

occasi onal ser mon or speech on st r i ct l y Chur ch quest i ons,

Page 55 of 87

mi ght wel l have been enough t o sat i sf y or di nar y men, as i t

had sat i sf i ed hi s pr edecessor , t he f i r st Bi shop ; but of t hi s

r out i ne wor k al most no not i ce can be t aken her e. Our space

wi l l bi al l t oo smal l f or even a compr essed nar r at i ve of what

we may cal l t he Bi shop' s wor ks of super er ogat i on. I t i s on

t hese t hat hi s f ame r est s, and hi s cl ai m t o an al most uni que

pl ace on t he r ol l of gr eat Engl i sh Chur chmen.

I n t he f i r st mont h af t er hi s consecr at i on he l ai d down at a

meet i ng of t he Chur ch Bui l di ng Soci et y t he posi t i on of t he

nat i onal Chur ch as he under st ood i t , and t he l i nes upon

whi ch i t needed t o be wor ki ng : " Our Chur ch must show

t hat i n her wi de and t ol er ant bosom ever y l egi t i mat e f or m of

Pr ot est ant Chr i st i ani t y can f i nd a home. We ar e a pr i vi -

l eged cl ass, secur ed as no ot her r el i gi ous denomi nat i ons ar e

secur ed. But why? That we may do a gr eat wor k f or t he

whol e nat i on. I see al r eady t hat we want f our Chur ch

or gani sat i ons i n t hi s di ocese ; ( i ) a soci et y f or bui l di ng

chur ches ; ( 2) a soci et y whi ch wi l l l ook i nt o chur ch edu-

cat i on ; ( 3) a soci et y t o pr ovi de cur at es i n popul ous par i shes ;

( 4) a soci et y f or t he augment at i on of smal l benef i ces. " I n

passi ng we may not e t hat on hi s deat h, f our t een year s l at er ,

he l ef t al l t hese t hor oughl y or gani sed and ef f i ci ent .

The moment of hi s ent r ance on publ i c l i f e coul d not have

been mor e happi l y chosen, f or t he gr eat cr i si s on t he edu-

cat i on quest i on had ar r i ved, and t he bat t l e was ar r ayed and

r agi ng r ound t he pr oposal s of t he Gover nment . Let us f i r st

gl ance at our Bi shop' s pl unge i nt o t hi s f r ay. I t was char act er -

i st i c of t he man never t o spend hi s st r engt h on t he out ski r t s,

but t o push st r ai ght i n f or t he hear t of t he bat t l e, and when

t her e t o wi el d hi s mace wi t h ent i r e f r eedom and f ear l ess -

ness, even i f sol di er s who t hought t hey wer e on hi s si de

200 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n

occasi onal l y came i n f or a back st r oke of t hat dought y

weapon. The quest i on of compul si on was at t hi s t i me t he

cr i t i cal one, and Mr . For st er was wat chi ng and wei ghi ng i n

hi s qui et sagaci ous way, t he swayi ng of t he f i ght , backwar ds

and f or war ds, al l over Engl and. One can wel l i magi ne t he

gr i m smi l e whi ch must have l i ght ed up hi s honest f ace on

r eadi ng such r epor t s as t hose f ol l owi ng.

A mass meet i ng i n Manchest er on t he educat i on quest i on

was hel d shor t l y af t er t he Bi shop' s consecr at i on, at whi ch he

was r ecei ved wi t h speci al ent husi asm, i n consequence per haps

of a l i t t l e i nci dent , whi ch he mi ght have pl anned hi msel f i f

he had been f i shi ng f or popul ar i t y amongst hi s Lancashi r e

peopl e. St r i di ng al ong one mor ni ng on hi s way t o hi s

Regi st r y he became awar e of exci t ement and shout i ng be-

hi nd hi m ; and, t ur ni ng r ound, saw a t r adesman' s car t

comi ng r at t l i ng down t he r oad wi t hout a dr i ver . The boy

had got out t o del i ver a par cel , and t he hor se had sei zed

t he oppor t uni t y of maki ng of f at a cant er f or hi s st abl e. The

Bi shop bei ng a man of or der , and t hor oughl y f ami l i ar wi t h

hor ses, r esent ed t hi s pr oceedi ng, whi ch mi ght pr ove danger -

ous f ur t her on i n a cr owded t hor oughf ar e. So he st epped

i nt o t he st r eet , made t he hor se swer ve, r an by hi s si de f or a

f ew paces, caught t he r ei n, br ought hor se and car t t o a hal t ,

and handed t hem over t o t he boy who came up pant i ng.

The st or y of cour se f l ew r ound, and pr obabl y account ed

f or t he embar r assi ng appl ause wi t h whi ch he was at once

r ecei ved. Wi t h t he cheer s r i ngi ng i n hi s ear s, he l i st ened t o

t he r eadi ng of t he r epor t , and t hen r ose t o speak, and, af t er

Page 56 of 87

a pr ot est agai nst al l exci t ement on t hi s gr eat quest i on, sai d :

" I want t o speak pl ai nl y, and i f you r eal l y di sagr ee I woul d

sooner hear you say ' no, no ' t han ' hear , hear . ' I hear d

you appl aud t he par agr aph of t he r epot t r ecommendi ng

compul sor y at t endance. Thi s I know, t hat , i f t he maj or i t y

CHAP. I I . THE EDUCATI ON QUESTI ON. 201

of t he Engl i sh peopl e r eal l y want compul si on, t he Gover n-

ment wi l l be onl y t oo happy t o gi ve i t . I f i t i s mer e cl ap-

t r ap sent i ment i t i s wor se t han usel ess. I want you wor k -

i ng men t o l ay t hi s quest i on ser i ousl y t o hear t , and see

whet her you ar e so al i ve t o t he r eal i nt er est s of your chi l dr en

as t o submi t t o a st r i ngent l aw of compul si on, whi ch wi l l

secur e t hem t he i nest i mabl e bl essi ng of a good, sound

educat i on. " One ot her sent ence f r om a l at er par t of t he

speech must be quot ed, when he had passed on t o t he ot her

bur ni ng quest i on of r el i gi ous educat i on. " I t el l you wor k -

i ng men, you wi l l f i nd many di f f i cul t i es i n t he " br ai n, but

none i n t he hear t . I f you wi l l onl y set your mi nds on

knowi ng what God wi l l have you t o do, God' s Spi r i t wi l l

keep you r i ght . "

Agai n, a day or t wo af t er war ds, at a meet i ng of t he

Educat i on Ai d Soci et y, he r ecur r ed t o t he subj ect , and sai d :

" Compul si on r epr esent s a power most hat ef ul t o Engl i sh-

men, as i t i nvol ves domi ci l i ar y vi si t s f r om t he pol i ce, or

ot her of f i ci al per sons. I t i s sai d t hat you wor ki ng peopl e

desi r e compul si on, and i f so t he pr obl em i s sol ved. I st i l l

hol d t o t he opi ni on f or whi ch I have been, I see, sever el y

t aken t o t ask, t hat a compul sor y l aw, not l oyal l y obeyed but

syst emat i cal l y t r ampl ed under f oot , i s about t he most

demor al i zi ng whi ch a nat i on can have on i t s st at ut e book.

Unl ess compul si on i s t o be t hor oughl y ef f ect i ve we shal l be

f ar bet t er wi t hout i t . " And a l i t t l e f ur t her on, speaki ng of

hi s own exper i ence as t o t he wi sh f or educat i on amongst t he

poor : " When I l ef t my Ber kshi r e par i sh t he ot her day wi t h

onl y 370 peopl e l i vi ng i n i t , how di d I l eave i t i n r espect of

educat i on ? I l ef t i t wi t h sevent y chi l dr en i n t he day

school , and an aver age dai l y at t endance of over si xt y. I had

t went y- f i ve agr i cul t ur al cl odhopper s, as t hey ar e cal l ed,

comi ng t o me t hr ee ni ght s a week ; maki ng t hemsel ves

202 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

smar t and t i dy, and wal ki ng per haps t wo mi l es t o t he school

af t er a har d day' s wor k, f ol l owi ng t he pl ough over mi r y f i el ds.

I f t hat i s not some pr oof of zeal f or educat i on I don' t know

what i s. "

Fr om a Ser mon i n t he Cat hedr al . " Pr act i cal l y i f you go

about t he wor l d and t r y t o f i nd a spot wher e t hi s r el i gi ous

di f f i cul t y exi st s, i t i s so mi cr oscopi c and of such t enui t y t hat

I def y any man t o put hi s f i nger on i t and say, Her e i t i s i n

al l i t s f or mi dabl e di mensi ons. "

On t hi s quest i on of r el i gi ous educat i on he spoke, at t he

Fr ee Tr ade Hal l , a f ew days l at er .

Apr i l 20/ / J, 1870. " I was l ayi ng t he f oundat i on st one of

a new school at Bl ackbur n t hi s mor ni ng, and was asked t o

addr ess 2000 or 3000 most l y wor ki ng peopl e, who wer e

st andi ng r ound. I put i t qui t e f r ankl y t o t hem, as I do t o

you now, whet her t hey had ever come acr oss t hi s mi ser abl e

Page 57 of 87

pr osel yt i si ng i nf l uence whi ch i s so f r eel y al l eged agai nst

denomi nat i onal school s : and whet her t hey f ound t hei r

chi l dr en so dut i f ul and t r act abl e, such model s of obedi ence

and ever y vi r t ue, t hat t hey coul d f ai r l y di spense wi t h

r el i gi ous mot i ves i n t hei r t r ai ni ng. I asked t hem whet her

t hey wi shed a pur el y secul ar educat i on f or t hei r chi l dr en,

and not a voi ce was r ai sed amongst t hose 2000 or 3000

peopl e. . . But now we ar e met by t he cr y of sect ar i ani sm

I don' t know how ol d t hat wor d i s, or when i t came i nt o t he

l anguage, but so f ar as I know i t s meani ng, i t i s t he name of

a t hi ng f or whi ch I have as l i t t l e l ove as any Engl i shman. . .

I don' t know what shape t he Gover nment Bi l l wi l l f i nal l y

assume when i t has passed t be cr uci bl e of par l i ament ar y di s -

cussi on. I don' t envy our l egi sl at or s who have t o f i t i n t he

t housand and one amendment s i nt o t he or i gi nal t ext . But

CHAP. I I . SPEECHES ON EDUCATI ON. 203

I do hope t hi s, I hope i t f or t he Chur ch of Engl and, and f or

t he di ocese of Manchest er , t hat we shal l al l submi t , whet her

wi t h good gr ace or not t o t he nat i onal wi l l expr essed by our

supr eme r epr esent at i ve assembl y. I desi r e t o r emember ,

and wi sh t o r emi nd you, t hat t he i nt er est s of t he nat i on ar e

par amount , above t he i nt er est of any sect or r el i gi ous com-

muni t y i n t he nat i on. And i f we who bel i eve i n t he

vi t al i zi ng i nf l uence of r el i gi on ar e not al l owed by t he nat i onal

l egi sl at ur e t o br i ng t hat i nf l uence t o bear i n our el ement ar y

day school s, we must t r y t o br i ng i t t o bear i n some ot her

way wi t h l ess hopes, i t may be, but wi t h good hear t st i l l . "

Agai n, on Apr i l 26t h, 1870, i n t he Fr ee Tr ade Hal l , at a

meet i ng of t he Nat i onal Educat i on Uni on. " The pai nf ul

f act i n t he pr esent agi t at i on i s, t hat what i s essent i al l y a

pr act i cal mat t er , t o be det er mi ned by common sense and

exper i ence, i s bei ng di scussed on abst r act , t heor et i cal

gr ounds ; and has passed i nt o t he hands of t hose who f or

t hi s pur pose ar e, i n my j udgment , t he wor st set of peopl e i n

t he wor l d, t he phi l osopher s, doct r i nai r es, syst em- f r amer s,

who, at l east hal f of t hem, have never set f oot i n an el e-

ment ar y school i n t hei r l i ves. Fr om my own exper i ence I

t el l you t hat par ent s pr ef er t hat educat i on shoul d be r el i gi ous.

The r el i gi ous di f f i cul t y, as i t i s cal l ed, has been r ai sed, not

by t hem, but f or t hem. . . . Now t ake f or i nst ance t he cr y

agai nst t he Cat echi sm. I n t eachi ng r el i gi on some f or mul ar y

must of necessi t y be used ; and i f a bet t er or si mpl er one

t han t he Chur ch Cat echi sm can be f ound, I am pr epar ed t o

accept i t . I t was i nvi di ousl y sai d, at a r ecent meet i ng of

t he Educat i on League i n t hi s r oom, t hat par ent s don' t want

( per haps t he speaker meant he di dn' t want ) chi l dr en t aught

t he Chur ch Cat echi sm and t he At hanasi an Cr eed. Who

ever hear d of t he At hanasi an Cr eed bei mr t aught i n an

204 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

el ement ar y school ? But wi t h r ef er ence t o t he Chur ch Cat e-

chi sm, I shoul d not be sor r y t o get r i d of t hat t i me- honour ed

but obsol et e i nst i t ut i on of Godf at her s and Godmot her s, and

t her ef or e I t hi nk t he f i r st par t of t he Cat echi sm mi ght be

got r i d of wi t h l i t t l e l oss. And I do not desi r e t hat young

chi l dr en i n el ement ar y school s shoul d be per pl exed by t he

appendi x t o t he Cat echi sm, whi ch t ouches on t he myst er i ous

doct r i ne of t he Sacr ament s. But , put t i ng t hat asi de f or a

l at er age, I don' t bel i eve t hat ei t her Bapt i st s, Wesl eyans,

Congr egat i onal i st s any mor e t han Chur ch peopl e, woul d

Page 58 of 87

obj ect t o have t hei r chi l dr en t aught what was t he vow by

whi ch t hey wer e bound at t hei r bapt i sm ; or t he f undament al

doct r i nes of t he Chr i st i an f ai t h as cont ai ned i n t he Apost l es,

Cr eed ; or t o l ear n t hei r dut y t o t hei r God and t hei r nei gh-

bour , by bei ng t aught t hat admi r abl e exposi t i on of t he

pr ayer of our Bl essed Lor d. "

Thi s l ast addr ess pr oved t oo much f or t he Secul ar Soci et y,

who pr obabl y began t o t hi nk t hat i f t hey di d not make head

i n some speci al manner agai nst t hi s out spoken and i ncom-

pr ehensi bl e Bi shop, he woul d be doi ng r eal mi schi ef . They

accor di ngl y sent hi m a chal l enge t o a publ i c di scussi on,

compl ai ni ng of t he t er ms he had used i n speaki ng of t he

secul ar i st s i n hi s r ecent addr esses. They had mi st aken

t hei r man, however , i f t hey t hought he was t o be t aken by

such a l ur e. Thi s was hi s answer :

" Ther e i s no novel t y i n t he ar gument s of moder n secu-

l ar i st s. They have been advanced, and t o my mi nd sat i sf ac -

t or i l y answer ed, a hundr ed t i mes i n t he cour se of t he hi s -

t or y of human t hought , and t he r el i gi on whi ch has sur vi ved

t he at t acks of Hume, Vol t ai r e, Tom Pai ne, wi l l I vent ur e

t o say out l i ve t hose of Mr . A. Hol yoake, Mr . C. Wat t s,

and Mr . Br adl augh. You must not put i t down t o

CHAP. i i . THE SECULARI STS. 205

t i mi di t y on my par t t hat I must decl i ne your chal l enge.

I cannot concei ve a subj ect mor e unf i t t ed f or publ i c

debat e bef or e a mi scel l aneous and, on such subj ect s,

unt r ai ned audi ence. I have l ooked i nt o t he mat t er as pr o-

f oundl y as my f acul t i es have al l owed me f or mysel f . I do

not say t hat al l di f f i cul t i es ar e cl ear ed away. The r evel at i on

i n whi ch I bel i eve doesn' t l ead me t o expect t hat t hey woul d

be. I f i n my addr ess at t he Fr ee Tr ade Hal l I used

l anguage whi ch coul d j ust l y wound t he f eel i ngs of any

secul ar i st s, I deepl y r egr et doi ng so. "

1871.

We must pass now f r om t he educat i on quest i on t o anot her

whi ch was al so a bur ni ng one i n t he Manchest er di ocese as

el sewher e. The Pr ot est ant r i ng i n hi s ear l y ser mons and

speeches soon encour aged t he many f oes of r i t ual i sm t o seek

hi s ai d. I n Januar y, 1871, a deput at i on f r om t he congr e-

gat i on of St . John Bapt i st , Hul me, wai t ed on hi m t o com-

pl ai n of t he r i t ual i st i c pr act i ces of t hei r r ect or , who had

al l owed candl est i cks on t he al t ar , pr ocessi ons i n chur ch, i n

whi ch a cr uci f i x and banner s wer e car r i ed, bowi ng t o t he

al t ar , and t he use of waf er br ead. The Bi shop had al r eady

r emonst r at ed wi t h t he r ect or , who had vol unt ar i l y submi t t ed

t o be gui ded by hi m. Mr . Andr ew, t he chur chwar den of

t he par i shi oner s, opened t hei r gr i evances, but was cut shor t

by t he Bi shop wi t h " Mr . Mar shal l has submi t t ed i n t he

f ai r est way t o anyt hi ng I or der , so I beg you wi l l not pr ess

me t o or der anyt hi ng unr easonabl e. "

The chur chwar den t hen pr oceeded t o compl ai n of post ur -

i ngs and genuf l exi ons. The Bi shop : " Do you bow t o t he

cr oss, Mr . Andr ew ? " Mr . Andr ew : " No. " Bi shop : " Why

t hen need you t r oubl e about i t , i f ot her peopl e t hi nk

Page 59 of 87

206 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

i t does t hem good ? You ar e a st i ckl er i t seems f or al l t he

r ubr i c or der s. Do you kneel when you ar e sayi ng your

pr ayer s ? " Upon t hi s Mr . Nesbi t t , t he r ect or ' s chur ch-

war den, i nt er posed wi t h " I never saw hi m kneel si nce he

came t o t he chur ch. He si t s. " Bi shop : " That woul d

gi ve of f ence t o some peopl e. That ' s why I ask you t o gi ve

and t ake. I don' t l i ke bowi ng, but i f peopl e t hi nk i t hel ps

t hem, I can' t obj ect t o i t . "

Sol vunt ur r i su t abul a. Af t er some f ur t her ski r mi shi ng

bet ween t he t wo wi ngs, t he deput at i on r et i r ed, and t he

Bi shop was not f ur t her t r oubl ed f r om St . John t he Bapt i st ' s,

Hul me, f or a per i od of near l y f our year s.

1870.

At t he Chur ch I nst i t ut e, Ol dham. Apr i l , 1870. " Li ber a-

t i oni st s say we owe our cr eed t o an act of Par l i ament . The

or i gi n of our cr eed, t he Apost l es' , i s l ost i n ant i qui t y. The

Ni cene cr eed came f r om t he Counci l of Ni ce l ong bef or e

t he Engl i sh Par l i ament was bor n or t hought of . That t he

pr ayer book was schedul ed t o an act of Par l i ament i s a

guar ant ee f or t he l i ber t y and f i xi t y of our f ai t h. We don' t

want t o be shi f t ed about by ever y ebb and f l ow of popul ar

opi ni on. Why i s i t possi bl e t o car i cat ur e Chr i st i ani t y?

Because our Chr i st i ani t y i s so f ar bel ow t he poi nt t o whi ch

i t ought t o r i se, because t her e i s so much unr eal i t y, hypo-

cr i sy, cant i n i t . I t hi nk I may def y any one t o car i cat ur e

t he l i f e, or wor k, or char act er of our Lor d ; or t o car i cat ur e

St . Paul , or t o r ead St . John' s Epi st l e and t r y t o car i cat ur e

t hat . "

Manchest er Ci t y Mi ssi on, annual meet i ng, May i 5t h,

1870, at whi ch he had consent ed t o pr esi de, t o t he con-

st er nat i on of Manchest er or t hodoxy : " Si nce I consent ed

t o t ake t he chai r I have had many r epr esent at i ons t hat I

CHAP. I I . THE LI CENSI NG QUESTI ON. 207

shoul d be i n my wr ong pl ace as a Bi shop, t hi s bei ng a

' sect ar i an i nst i t ut i on. ' I f I bel i eved t hat , I shoul dn' t be

her e. But t hi s Mi ssi on Soci et y seems t o me by what I have

r ead of t hei r publ i cat i ons, and by t he r epor t , t o be l oyal t o

t he pr i nci pl es we al l pr of ess. The f eel i ng deepens i n me

ever y day t hat t hese pr i nci pl es of Chr i st ' s gospel ar e f ew,

si mpl e, br oad. Chr i st i ans have been wr angl i ng over t hei r

pet t y shi bbol et hs, and have l et t he devi l get an advant age

over t hem, whi l e t hey pi l ed ar ms t o di scuss pet t y quest i ons

of t heol ogy, and, i nst ead of pr esent i ng a ser r i ed f r ont ,

t ur ned t hei r ar ms agai nst each ot her , as t he poor Fr ench ar e

doi ng. "

But per haps t he most char act er i st i c of al l hi s ear l y ut t er -

ances was at what i s descr i bed i n t he r epor t s as " a st or my

meet i ng" on t he quest i on of l i censi ng publ i c houses on

Apr i l 9t h, whi ch he at t ended at t he r equest of t he Temper -

ance League. One can pi ct ur e t he const er nat i on of hi s

f r i ends not unl i ke t hat of t he Pr i nces of Moab on Mount

Peor when t he Bi shop suddenl y br oke out i n t he mi ddl e

of hi s speech wi t h, " Yest er day I pr eached i n a ver y f ul l

chur ch. My voi ce was a l i t t l e out of or der , and I was a

l i t t l e exhaust ed. At l unch t he cl er gyman sai d, ' I t hi nk a

Page 60 of 87

gl ass of bi t t er beer af t er t hat ser mon woul d do you good. 1

I t hought so t oo, and I dr ank t he bi t t er beer , and f el t t he

bet t er f or i t . So you see I ' m not one of t hose who as t he

ol d di t t y r uns ' woul d r ob a poor man of hi s beer ' pr ovi ded

i t i s good and whol esome, and he knows when he has had

enough. You mi ght as wel l t r y t o sweep away al l your

t own- hal l s, or co- oper at i ve st or es, as al l your publ i c- houses. "

At a Meet i ng t o consi der pr oposal s f or r ef or m of t he

Gr ammar School . " Hugh Ol dham, i f he coul d r i se f r om

hi s gr ave, woul d wi sh hi s f oundat i on t o be used f or t he

2o8 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

ut most possi bl e good of t he peopl e of Manchest er . Ther e-

f or e t he ' Cy- pr es ' r ul e ought t o be appl i ed i n t hi s case

f r eel y. I have seen what comes of hol di ng st r i ct l y t o t he

t er ms of a f ounder ' s wi l l i n my ol d nei ghbour hood. Bef or e

t he r ef or m of t he Readi ng Fr ee School , i n 1865, t her e was

onl y one pupi l l ef t i n i t , and he was a Fr ench boy. "

Dec. 2&t / t t 1870. At a meet i ng of t he Chur ch Mi ssi onar y

Soci et y at Asht on- under - Lyne. " I never f eel mor e l ost

t han when I am i n t he chai r or speaki ng at a mi ssi onar y

meet i ng, because al l my knowl edge i s der i ved f r om books

and r epor t s. My di f f i cul t y i s not f r om l ack of i nt er est i n

t he cause, but si mpl y f r om a sense of unr eal i t y, whi ch I

suppose ever y one must f eel when he has t o speak on a

di f f i cul t quest i on on whi ch he has no per sonal exper i ence.

So my r emar ks t o- ni ght wi l l be ver y f ew and gener al . "

Amongst t hese one may pr of i t abl y ci t e t he f ol l owi ng:

" Haven' t t hese poor heat hens t housands of mi l es away a

speci al cl ai m on you Lancashi r e peopl e ? Si nce I have

been her e I have vi si t ed sever al l ar ge mi l l s weavi ng cal i co

f or I ndi a. You ar e doi ng t hem a good t ur n per haps i n

sendi ng t hem cheap cal i co, but at t he same t i me you ar e

doi ng your sel ves a good t ur n. Now, I want t o know i f

cheap cal i co i s al l you can put i nt o t hei r hands? Now,

don' t you t hi nk you shoul d t r y t o i mpr ove t hem i n ot her

r espect s besi des cl ot hi ng ? Can' t you t r y t o hel p t hem cl ot he

t hemsel ves wi t h Chr i st ' s r i ght eousness as wel l as cheap

Lancashi r e cal i co ? I say t hen t hat I ndi a ought t o have a

speci al i nt er est and cl ai m on you. "

1871.

Jan. 5/ / / , 1871. At a meet i ng of t he Boys' Ref uge, and

I ndust r i al Br i gade. " Thi s i s one of t he most di f f i cul t and

CHAP. i i . THE ACT OF UNI FORMI TY. 209

del i cat e pr obl ems of moder n soci et y. How can your wor k

be done wi t hout encour agi ng pr of essi onal vagr ancy or i nt er -

f er i ng wi t h t he r i ght f ul dut y of par ent s? I t was sai d by

Ar chbi shop What el y, a st r i ct pol i t i cal economi st , but at

hear t a ver y benevol ent man, t hat he had gi ven away 40, 0007.

i n char i t i es, but never a si xpence t o a st r eet beggar . On

t he ot her hand t her e was a gent l eman whose mor t al r emai ns

ar e bei ng l ower ed about t hi s ver y moment i nt o t hei r l ast

r est i ng pl ace, who pl ayed no unconspi cuous or i nconsi st ent

par t i n t he publ i c l i f e of Manchest er , of whom i t was st at ed

i n bi ogr aphi cal not i ces I have been r eadi ng of hi m, t hat no

beggar ever asked of hi m f or ai d and went away unr el i eved.

These men may seem i nconsi st ent t he one wi t h t he ot her ,

Page 61 of 87

but we ar e not l i vi ng i n Ut opi a but i n Engl and, wher e we

must al l al l ow t her e i s f ar t oo abundant r oom f or t he

pr act i cal devel opment of al l benevol ent sent i ment s. Ti l l

t hese gr eat subj ect s ar e t aken up wi t h a br oader spi r i t , and

f i r mer gr asp, I don' t know how we can hel p ' t i nker i ng '

wi t h quest i ons whi ch need a mor e pr ompt and deci ded

t r eat ment . I conf ess I shoul d be gl ad t o see t he day, when

our l egi sl at ur e, i nst ead of f i ght i ng t he bat t l es of pol i t i cal

par t i es, shal l r eal l y gi r d up i t s l oi ns t o ascer t ai n what pr act i cal

sol ut i on can be gi ven t o t he i nf i ni t e and di ver si f i ed soci al

pr obl ems whi ch meet any one who wal ks about t he st r eet s

of such a ci t y as Manchest er . "

Jan. gt h, 1871. As chai r man of a meet i ng of t he Soci et y

f or t he ai d of t he Deaf and Dumb. " I have had t he gr eat est

possi bl e sat i sf act i on i n admi t t i ng Mr . Downi ng t he super i n-

t endent of t he Soci et y t o Deacons' or der s. I got over

Ar chbi shop Laud' s r ul e ' t hat no man was t o be or dai ned

a Deacon unl ess he had a speci f i c nomi nat i on and t i t l e, ' by

Mr . Bar dsl ey' s hel p, who has nomi nat ed hi m assi st ant cur at e

p

210 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

of St . Ann' s, whi l e I have gi ven hi m a sor t of r ovi ng cur e,

t o at t end t o t he spi r i t ual want s of al l t he deaf and dumb

poor he can f i nd i n t he di st r i ct . "

Jan. i <) t h, 1871. " I t hi nk t her e i s a gener al sense of di s -

comf or t t o use t he mi l dest t er m i n t he mi nds of Chur ch-

men under t he Act of Uni f or mi t y. What we want i s t o

enabl e our cl er gy t o go f or t h wi t h t he Bi bl e and Pr ayer Book

i n t hei r hands, and use t hem as t hey f i nd best f or t he edi f i -

cat i on of t hose t hey ar e seeki ng t o ser ve. "

He accept ed t he post of Pr esi dent of t he Manchest er

Savi ngs Bank f or 1871, and i n hi s openi ng speech f r om t he

chai r sai d, " Wi t h me soci al quest i ons have al ways t aken

r ank, not onl y f ar above pol i t i cal but even f ar above

eccl esi ast i cal quest i ons. By t hi s r emember I mean f or I

don' t wi sh t o be mi sunder st ood t hat wi t hout r el axi ng my

hol d on what I bel i eve t o be t he gr eat t r ut hs of Chr i st i ani t y,

I st i l l f eel t hat t he gr eat f unct i on of Chr i st i ani t y i s t o el evat e

man i n hi s soci al condi t i on. Ther ef or e I t hi nk my busi ness

as a Bi shop i s t o do al l I can t o di f f use i t s gr eat pr i nci pl es

f or t he gui dance of human conduct , by exampl e and pr ecept ,

t aki ng my chance whet her my own Communi on gai ns or

l oses t her eby. I car e l i t t l e f or t he domi nance of t hi s or t hat

eccl esi ast i cal par t y, my pr ayer f or al l who t r y t o hol d and

spr ead t he t r ut h bei ng t hat t hey may pr osper as t hey deser ve.

I t hi nk an i nst i t ut i on l i ke t he Savi ngs Bank i s ani mat ed by a

Chr i st i an spi r i t , embodi es a Chr i st i an pr i nci pl e, and ought t o

command t he sympat hy of ever y Chr i st i an man; " and

t hen pr oceedi ng t o comment on Mr . Gl adst one' s pr oposal

i n hi s budget speech t o r educe t he r at e of i nt er est i n

Savi ngs Banks " I am but a young and i nexper i enced l egi s -

l at or , and i n t he pr esent f l uct uat i ng st at e of publ i c opi ni on

don' t know how l ong I may r emai n a l egi sl at or at al l , so at

CHAP. I I . ADDRESS TO WORKI NG MEN. 211

Page 62 of 87

pr esent I don' t see my way t o doi ng mor e f or you t han

at t end a deput at i on. Excel l ent as our Chancel l or of t he

Exchequer i s i n l uci d st at ement and exposi t i on, I must say

t hat i n a good many mat t er s he seems t o me r at her shar p i n

hi s pr act i ce. I pr esume t hat t he mot i ve f or r educi ng t he

r at e of i nt er est i s t o br i ng t he ol d est abl i shed Savi ngs Banks

down t o t he l evel of Gover nment Savi ngs Banks. But i t

seems t o me t her e ought t o be no compet i t i on bet ween

t hem ; each has a di st i nct r eason f or i t s exi st ence and a

di st i nct posi t i on t o occupy. The Post - Of f i ce Banks ar e f or

our mi gr at or y popul at i on who want t o move t hei r i nvest -

ment s f r om Manchest er t o Li ver pool or London, as t hei r

occupat i on car r i es t hem. On t he ot her hand t he ol d banks

ar e f or our st at i onar y peopl e, and I conf ess i n t he i nt er est s

of soci et y I t hi nk t he st at i onar y peopl e ar e t he br anch of

our f el l ow ci t i zens t hat ought t o be encour aged, and t her e-

f or e i f by a smal l pr emi um of 10 per cent , we can gi ve an

advant age t o t he st at i onar y over t he l ocomot i ve popul at i on

i t shoul d be done. I haven' t been her e l ong enough t o pay

mi nut e at t ent i on t o t he st at e of t hi ngs her e, but my exper i -

ence i n l i f e t el l s me we ar e al l l i vi ng t oo f ast . We don' t l eave

mar gi n enough bet ween i ncome and expendi t ur e. I t ake t hi s

i nst i t ut i on t o be a vi si bl e wi t ness i n a gr eat commer ci al

communi t y of t he val ue of t hr i f t , and am not onl y gr at i f i ed

but pr oud, t o be el ect ed i t s Pr esi dent . "

Addr ess t j Wor ki ng Men, Tr i ni t y Chur ch, Sal f or d. " I

am gl ad t o see you her e t o- ni ght j ust as you have l ef t your

mi l l s and wor kshops. I r egr et bi t t er l y t hat chur ches, not

onl y i n Manchest er but al l over Engl and, and I f ear chapel s

al so, ar e t oo much i n t he possessi on of t he wel l - dr essed, t he

comf or t abl e, and t he wel l - t o- do. " . . " I f you wi l l t ake a

l i t t l e mor e pai ns t o ask God t o gi ve you gr ace t o get r i d of

p 2

212 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

l ust , i nt emper ance, al l t hat keeps you down, I am sur e t her e

i s no count r y i n t he wor l d ( and I have seen many) i n whi ch

t he honest , sober , i ndust r i ous, t hr i f t y wor kman has so good

a chance of r ai si ng hi msel f t o a posi t i on of i ndependence as

i n Engl and. "

1870.

These speci mens of t he Bi shop' s ut t er ances dur i ng t he

f i r st year of hi s epi scopat e may be cl osed by t he f ol l owi ng

speech on t he occasi on of l ayi ng t he f oundat i on- st one of

Owens Col l ege on Sept . 24t h, 1870, when he r esponded t o

t he t oast " t he Cl er gy of al l denomi nat i ons. " The f ounder

( i n 1845) had made a condi t i on of hi s gi f t t hat " not hi ng

shoul d be ment i oned i n t he mat t er or modes of educat i on

or i nst r uct i on i n r ef er ence t o any r el i gi ous or t heol ogi cal

subj ect , whi ch shoul d be r easonabl y of f ensi ve t o t he

consci ence of any st udent , or of hi s r el at i ons or f r i ends ; "

and, bei ng unabl e t o put any wor ki ng const r uct i on on t hese

wor ds, t he gover ni ng body had cut t he knot by excl udi ng

al l r el i gi ous i nst r uct i on f r om t hei r cur r i cul um. " Ther e

mi ght have been a t i me, " he sai d, " and not so l ong ago,

when a Bi shop woul d have f el t uncomf or t abl e i n bei ng cal l ed

upon t o r espond t o t hi s t oast i n t hi s company, but I do not

t hi nk now t her e i s any man on t he Bench of Bi shops who

Page 63 of 87

woul d f eel so, and i f t her e i s I am not t hat man. I do not

cl ai m t o be mor e l i ber al t han my nei ghbour s t her e i s

not hi ng mor e di st ast ef ul t o me t han quasi - l i ber al i t y. But I

cl ai m t hi s, t hat I l ove my f el l ow- men, and f ur t her t hat I t ake

a l ar ge and br oad vi ew of what i s under st ood by ' t r ut h. ' I

bel i eve t hat ever y man who i s ear nest l y t r yi ng t o spr ead

t he t r ut h whi ch he knows, i s l abour i ng i n t he cause of

Hi m who i s f i r st of al l a God of hol i ness, but secondl y ( i f

i t can be cal l ed second) a God of t r ut h. I never have

bel i eved t hat t r ue sci ence can be cont r ar y t o t r ue r el i gi on,

CHAP. I I . A NEW CRUSADE. 213

or t hat t r ue r el i gi on ought t o be af r ai d of any of t he

l egi t i mat e concl usi ons of sci ence. I know t hat I am i n

t he pr esence of men who have est abl i shed t hei r r i ght t o

be i nt er pr et er s of t he l aws and phenomena of t he mat er i al

wor l d. I r ead t hei r specul at i ons wi t h t he deepest i nt er est ,

wi t h much mor e i nt er est t han t hey woul d best ow on any

specul at i ons of mi ne. I can l i st en wi t h i nt er est whi l e a

l ear ned pr of essor specul at es whet her we who l i ve i n Man-

chest er ar e det er i or at ed angel s or devel oped savages. I

onl y ask t o be t hei r f el l ow- wor ker i n bui l di ng up t he gr eat

t empl e of t r ut h. But I woul d ask t hem whet her t hese

mat er i al or i nt el l ect ual t heor i es can sol ve t he mor al and

spi r i t ual phenomena by whi ch t hey ar e sur r ounded, and

whet her t her e i s not a pl ace f or poor par sons as wel l as f or

phi l osopher s ? I f t hey woul d onl y bel i eve t hat par sons ar e

not scept i cs i n di sgui se, t r yi ng t o pal m of f on t he wor l d

somet hi ng t hat has f ai l ed ; t hat t hey ar e t r yi ng cal ml y, and

st ep by st ep, t o t r ead t he pat h of t r ut h ; I can hope t hat

t he di sput ed boundar i es bet ween r el i gi on and sci ence may

be set t l ed, so t hat we may bot h al i ke mi ni st er i n and hel p

t o bui l d up t he gr eat t empl e of t r ut h. "

Lat er i n t he eveni ng Pr of essor Huxl ey i n r epl yi ng t o t he

t oast of t he Pr esi dent of t he Br i t i sh Associ at i on sai d, " I

shal l not soon f or get t he spi r i t - st i r r i ng speech of t he nobl e

pr el at e, a speech I wel come and shal l r emember as l ong as

I l i ve, as i mbued wi t h a spi r i t , whi ch, i f i t had al ways been

exhi bi t ed, woul d have pr event ed t he di f f i cul t i es and mi s -

under st andi ngs whi ch I mysel f depr ecat e. "

I t was not onl y by hi s absol ut e f r ankness and f ear l essness

of speech t hat t he Bi shop st ar t l ed hi s gr eat di ocese i n t hese

f i r st mont hs of hi s epi scopat e. Hi s wor k mor e t han kept

pace wi t h hi s t al k. Besi des car ef ul l y over haul i ng, and

i nspi r i ng wi t h new l i f e and ener gy, t he excel l ent Chur ch

214 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

machi ner y whi ch he f ound r eady t o hi s hand, est abl i shi ng

i n addi t i on a Di ocesan Boar d of Educat i on, and enl ar gi ng

and i nspi r i ng wi t h new l i f e t he Di ocesan Chur ch Bui l di ng

Soci et y, he under t ook a new cr usade of a ki nd, and i n

quar t er s, whi ch had been hi t her t o qui t e negl ect ed. I t t ook

hi m onl y a f ew weeks t o make up hi s mi nd t hat t he Chur ch

i n Lancashi r e, i f she was ever t o f ul f i l her mi ssi on as he

under st ood i t , must t ake qui t e new gr ound wi t h t he t wo

most numer ous sect i ons of t he peopl e, t he f act or y oper at i ves

and ski l l ed mechani cs, and t he mass of unski l l ed l abour

and dest i t ut i on bel ow, whi ch i s commonl y known as " t he

Page 64 of 87

r esi duum. " Accor di ngl y, al ways wi t h t he consent , and

gener al l y wi t h t he hear t y appr oval , of t he gr eat empl oyer s

of l abour , whom he appr oached t hr ough t he l ocal cl er gy,

he at t ended at such est abl i shment s as t he St . John' s Car -

r i age Wor ks, t he At l as I r on Wor ks, and t he Gor t on Rai l way

Wor ks i n t he di nner hour , and gave addr esses, pr ef aced by

t wo or t hr ee col l ect s and t he Lor d' s Pr ayer , t o such of t he

mechani cs and l abour er s as chose t o at t end. I n t he same

way, and f or l i ke pur poses, he gat her ed t he boat men on t he

canal s, t he scavenger s, and t he ni ght - soi l men, i n any

sui t abl e r oom whi ch coul d be bor r owed or hi r ed i n t he

nei ghbour hood of t hei r wor k.

Fur t her on we shal l meet wi t h sampl es of t he t opi cs he

sel ect ed, and hi s met hod of handl i ng t hem bef or e such

audi ences. I n t he pr esent somewhat unwi el dy chapt er

r oom must st i l l be f ound f or some shor t not i ce of how

t hi s st r ange phenomenon of a Bi shop st r i di ng about hi s

di ocese on f oot , car r yi ng hi s own bl ue bag cont ai ni ng hi s

r obes, st oppi ng r unaway car t s, and t al ki ng f ami l i ar l y wi t h

ever y one he met , gent l e or si mpl e, wi t h a cheer f ul and

heal t hy cur i osi t y as t o al l t hey wer e t hi nki ng about or

i nt er est ed i n st r uck t he Lancashi r e f ol k.

CHAP. I I . THE CLASSES. 215

The f act or y hands, and wor ki ng peopl e gener al l y, wer e

t aken as i t wer e by st or m, and had i nst al l ed hi m l ong bef or e

t he end of t he year i n a pl ace i n t hei r hear t s whi ch he never

l ost . The f ol l owi ng, whi ch coul d be mul t i pl i ed t o any ext ent ,

may be t aken as f ai r i nst ances of t hei r at t i t ude. A st ur dy di s -

sent i ng oper at i ve wai t ed f or hi m at t he bot t om of t he st ai r s

af t er one of hi s ear l i est meet i ngs, and sei zed hi m by t he hand

wi t h t he r emar k, " Ah, Bi shop, t hou' dst mak' a f oi ne Met hody

pr eacher . " Anot her , wai t i ng f or hi m out si de chur ch af t er a

char i t y ser mon, f or ced a sover ei gn i nt o hi s hand wi t h, " Bi shop,

her e' s a pound f or t hee. " Bi shop : " Thanks, my f r i end ;

f or t he char i t y ? " Oper at i ve : " Nay, nay, f or t hysel f . "

" The cl asses, " as r epr esent ed by t he pr ess, wer e by no

means so unani mous, as i ndeed how shoul d t hey be, scar cel y

a day passi ng i n whi ch he di d not r un shar pl y count er t o

some of t hei r cher i shed bel i ef s or pr ej udi ces. Never t hel ess,

t hey wer e al l eager t o hear what ever he had t o say ; and so

he pr oved a per f ect Godsend t o t he l ocal paper s, as t hei r

subscr i ber s seemed t o be never t i r ed of r eadi ng about hi m.

Repor t er s f r om al l t he l eadi ng paper s f ol l owed hi m about

mer ci l essl y, r epor t i ng al l he sai d ver bat i m; and edi t or s,

whi l e r ut hl essl y pr i nt i ng i t , woul d have been mor e t han

human i f t hey had not t aken r evenge now and t hen by mor e

or l ess sar cast i c comment f or such a cr owdi ng of t hei r space.

Af t er t he f i r st chor us of appl ause, whi ch may be summed

up i n t he wor ds, " I f not a Manchest er man he i s t he man

f or Manchest er , " " He i s t he most candi d publ i c man we

have ever had i n Lancashi r e, " came uncer t ai n not es, " He

may be candi d enough, but he al ways has t he gl oves on. He

i s al ways gi vi ng somebody a good dr essi ng. " " You never

saw a man wi t h t hat col our ed hai r and compl exi on who

wasn' t hot - t emper ed, " wr ot e anot her . A t hi r d st r uck i n,

" He i s l i ke a chest nut hor se, and never want s whi p or spur .

216 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART 1 1.

Page 65 of 87

He seems t o enj oy as a l uxur y bur st i ng t he t r ammel s whi ch

shoul d hedge a Bi shop. " " l i e i s anyhow, " wr ot e a f our t h,

" a man of r eal geni us, t he geni us of common- sense. " Then

af t er a mont h or t wo began t he chor us of r eact i on. " Hi s

f or t e, " wr ot e one f acet i ous scr i be, " i s omni pr esence, hi s

f oi bl e omni sci ence. " " At any r at e, " l aughed t he Bi shop,

" i f omni pr esence i s my f or t e i t i s t he f aul t of Lancashi r e,

whi ch dr ags me about t o many mor e pl aces t han I want t o

go t o. " Anot her br oke out , " I t i s no uncommon t hi ng t o

f i nd hi m wi t hi n t he space of t went y- f our hour s speaki ng hal f -

a- dozen t i mes i n as many di f f er ent pl aces ; and r angi ng,

apar t f r om a somewhat scant y t heol ogy, over a f i el d embr ac -

i ng such subj ect s as t he evi l s of dr unkenness, t he st at i st i cs

of cr i me, mi schi evous agi t at or s, wor ki ng hour s, chur ch col -

l ect i ons, t he evi l s of i gnor ance, young men' s means of savi ng

money, t he ef f ect s of t he l i censi ng Act , and cost l y f uner al s.

Thi s i s no exagger at i on. "

Of al l of whi ch t he Bi shop t ook l i t t l e heed, or r epl i ed now

and t hen wi t h a l augh ; as f or i nst ance, i n a speech as chai r -

man of a meet i ng of t he Educat i on Ai d Soci et y i n hi s f i r st

aut umn, " The newspaper s t el l you, I see, t hat t he Bi shop

of Manchest er i s begi nni ng t o be a bor e; t hat hi s name

comes bef or e t he publ i c of t ener t han any one want s t o see

i t . I shoul d be ver y gl ad i f t hese gent l emen woul d hel p me

t o decl i ne i nvi t at i ons, or at any r at e woul dn' t r epor t me. The

f act i s I never have a Sunday, or hal f a Sunday, t o mysel f .

But I do f eel t hat when a cl er gyman comes t o me and says he

i s l abour i ng i n a poor par i sh wi t h a heavy bal ance agai nst hi m,

and t hat i f I wi l l go and pr each i t wi l l be wor t h 307. or 4O/ .

t o hi m, I can onl y answer , ' I f I am di sengaged, I ' l l go. ' "

And so t he edi t or s kept on r epor t i ng hi m, and as a r ul e

ceased t o scof f . Those gent l emen ar e keen per sons, and not

apt t o wast e t he l ash wher e i t onl y dr aws chaf f i nst ead of bl ood.

CHAPTER I I I .

" He t hought t he l ess men' s consci ences wer e ent angl ed, and t he l ess

t he communi on of t he Chur ch was cl ogged wi t h di sput abl e opi ni ons or

pr act i ces, t he wor l d woul d be t he happi er , consci ences t he f r eer , and t he

Chur ch t he qui et er . " ARCHBI SHOP TI LLOTSO. N, Pr ef ace t o Ser mons,

1693-

MANCHESTER : EXTRA DI OCESAN WORK : HOUSE OF LORDS :

CONVOCATI ON. 1 870 1 87 I .

1870.

BEFORE t ur ni ng t o some of hi s ext r a- Di ocesan ut t er ances,

we must l i nger f or a moment or t wo on t he somewhat pat h-

et i c si de of hi s t r ansi t i on f r om pr i vat e t o publ i c l i f e. Up t o

t hi s t i me no man had ever been mor e di l i gent i n pr eser vi ng

t he t hr eads of hi s ear l y l i f e unbr oken, and f ew have had

mor e t hr eads t o pr eser ve. Hi s punct ual i t y i n keepi ng up

cor r espondence wi t h hi s r el at i ons, and ol d school and col l ege

f r i ends, was si mpl y amazi ng : and t he f r i ends of hi s man-

hood had been equal l y wel l t r eat ed. For i nst ance, hi s

cor r espondence wi t h Mr . Mozl ey, whom he succeeded at

Chol der t on, never f l agged f or t went y year s. ( I t has been

pr eser ved, by t he way, al most i nt act , and f ew edi t or s can

have had mor e genui ne pl easur e t han I have had i n r eadi ng

i t t hr ough mor e t han once. ) The same may be sai d of t hat

wi t h Mr . Tooke, Canon Nor r i s, and ot her s, t hough begun

Page 66 of 87

much l at er i n l i f e.

2i 3 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I I .

Al l t hi s was now at an end. I t was vai n t o st r uggl e

agai nst t he i nevi t abl e. The enor mous cor r espondence of

hi s di ocese t he gr eat er par t of i t ent i r el y unnecessar y and

of t en si l l y whi ch he pat i ent l y kept down day by day, wi t h-

out t he ai d of a secr et ar y, made i t si mpl y out of t he quest i on

t o at t empt t he mai nt enance of hi s ol d habi t s. Hi s pr i vat e

cor r espondence f el l at once i nt o ar r ear s, and became i nt er -

mi t t ent and i r r egul ar . I n t hi s he had t o acqui esce, not

wi t hout occasi onal r epi ni ng. Thus t o Mr . Mozl ey he

wr i t es :

1871.

Manchest er , Januar y i o/ / i , 1871. " I am ut t er l y ashamed

of mysel f f or never havi ng yet answer ed your ki nd l et t er

f r om Rome, i n whi ch you congr at ul at ed me on my el evat i on

t o t he bi shopr i c of Manchest er . My si mpl e, and I hope

my suf f i ci ent excuse i s, t hat r eal l y my necessar y cor r espond-

ence has been so enor mous, t hat l et t er s whi ch coul d be

wr i t t en at any t i me have been post poned agai n and agai n,

t i l l mont h af t er mont h has sl i pped away. I am t er r i bl y

af r ai d t hat one of t he wor st consequences of my new posi t i on

wi l l be, t hat I shal l l ose t he i nt er cour se, one af t er anot her ,

wi t h my best and dear est f r i ends. I have wi shed mysel f a.

t housand t i mes back at my qui et par sonage at Uf t on, and

t hat some one el se had been sent t o gover n t hi s gr eat and

di f f i cul t di ocese of Manchest er .

" Not hi ng can be mor e i nt er est i ng t han t he wor k, not hi ng

ki nder or mor e enc' our agi ng t han t he peopl e, but t he di gni t y

of t he si t uat i on i s qui t e al i en f r om al l my t ast es, and t he

wor k i s above my st r engt h. But her e I am, and I must t r y

t o do my best . I dar e say I shal l make l ot s of mi st akes,

but I t hi nk al so I have some f r i ends, and t he peopl e appr ai se

what wor k I am abl e t o do, even at mor e t han i t i s wor t h ;

CHAP. i n. DEATH OF MEACHER. 219

and i f I coul d onl y f eel mysel f mor e equal t o what i s r e-

qui r ed of me I shoul d be l ess di scont ent ed t han I am. I f ,

af t er such t r eat ment as you have al r eady r ecei ved, you wi l l

ever wr i t e t o me agai n I shoul d l i ke t o hear somet hi ng of

how you have set t l ed down i n your new home, how you l i ke

Devonshi r e and i t s peasant s, how t he Bi shop get s on ( I see

he was near l y bur nt i n hi s l awn sl eeves) , &c. , &c. I dar e

say t hat Mr s. Mozl ey and you t oget her have made t he house

ver y ni ce, and I suppose you have by t hi s t i me got some

habi t abl e r ooms on t he gr ound f l oor . Poor ol d Meacher

di ed November i 4t h, at Li t t l emor e Asyl um, and was bur i ed

i n t he chur chyar d t her e. Hi s mi nd was qui t e gone, and hi s

deat h cannot be consi der ed ot her t han a happy r el ease. I

am not occupyi ng t he epi scopal r esi dence " [ Maul det h

Hal l ] . " I t i s qui t e unsui t abl e i n mor e ways t han one, and

i n t he hope of sel l i ng i t I have r ent ed a par sonage house

i n Manchest er f or t wo year s f r om Mar ch 25t h l ast . But I

have had no of f er s yet , and t i mes ar e not ver y pr osper ous.

Page 67 of 87

My mot her and aunt ar e l i vi ng wi t h me. "

To Mr . Tooke. Sept . 1871. " I don' t much l i ke my

wor k as Bi shop. Happi l y I never sought i t , or I shoul d

r epr oach mysel f ; but havi ng seen what a bi shop shoul d be

i n Bi shop Hami l t on, I f eel mysel f so f ar bel ow t hat l evel

t hat I am ashamed of my own unwor t hi ness. Not hi ng, t o

be sur e, can exceed t he ki ndness of t he Lancashi r e peopl e

t owar ds me ; and t hough of cour se I make many mi st akes,

and no doubt say t hi ngs wi t h whi ch even ol d f r i ends l i ke

your sel f cannot agr ee, I hope t hat on t he whol e I have

t hei r conf i dence and good opi ni on. "

To t he Rev. J. Sal e. November 2^ / 1, 187 1. " Do, f or ol d

f r i endshi p' s sake, dr op t he ' Lor d ' out of your mode ot

220 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

addr essi ng me, and si mpl y cal l me ' Dear Bi shop. ' I wi sh

t o t hi nk and t o be r emi nded of t he l or dl y par t of my t i t l e

as l i t t l e as possi bl e. I have qui t e gi ven up hor se exer ci se

her e, I have no t i me, and t her e i s no mot i ve. The r oads

ar e al l paved, and a st r i p of t ur f i s nowher e t o be f ound.

Oh, how gl adl y I woul d r et ur n t o my ol d bucol i c l i f e i f dut y

al l owed me ! Happi l y I di d not come her e of my own

choi ce ; and i f God sent me He wi l l gi ve me st r engt h and

wi sdom f or t he wor k, but when a f ew year s ar e gone, i f

my l i f e i s spar ed, I shal l hand over t he of f i ce t o a younger

and a bet t er man. " And a l i t t l e f ur t her on : " I am qui t e

ashamed of t he way i n whi ch under t he pr essur e of new

dut i es, ol d f r i ends f al l , I wi l l not say out of r emembr ance,

but out of t he r anks of cor r espondent s. I har dl y ever can

f i nd t i me f or t hose l et t er s whi ch st i l l hol d t oget her anci ent

f r i endshi ps even when per sonal i nt er cour se has become

i mpossi bl e. "

1872.

To t he Same. Manchest er , Januar y 22nd, 1872. " I f ear

I shal l f al l i nt o di sgr ace wi t h al l my f r i ends, f or I f i nd i t

al most i mpossi bl e t o keep up as I shoul d wi sh t o do my

pr i vat e cor r espondence. Oh, Sal e, I woul d gi ve hal f I pos -

sess t o be back agai n i n my qui et count r y par sonage ! I

can' t t hi nk how I l et my f r i ends per suade me t hat I was f i t

t o be a Bi shop. I don' t say t hat I am unhappy, but I am

di ssat i sf i ed wi t h mysel f ; t he wor k i s above my power , and

I f eel mysel f not hal f good or hol y enough f or such an of f i ce

as I have t o f i l l . I am goi ng t o London on Wednesday t o

at t end t he f i r st meet i ng of t he gover ni ng body of Shr ewsbur y

School ; and t hen I go t o Covent r y t o pr each a ser mon ;

and t hen t o Oxf or d f or Sunday; and t hen t o Chest er t o

pr each one of t he openi ng ser mons at t he cat hedr al ; and

CHAP. i l l . BACK I N BERKSHI RE. 221

t hen on t he 3ol h home agai n. That i s a sampl e of t he

wor l d I am obl i ged t o l i ve i n. Just cont r ast t hat wi t h my

f or mer qui et ude. "

Thus af t er upwar ds of a year ' s exper i ence he i s st i l l by no

means r econci l ed, and t he l ongi ng f or count r y and qui et ,

and wor k of whi ch he coul d f eel hi msel f mast er , was of t en

f or ci ng i t sel f up.

Page 68 of 87

Her e i s t he f i r st gl eam of genui ne enj oyment of t he ol d

ki nd. He i s on a shor t hol i day, and back f or t he f i r st t i me

i n hi s ol d Ber kshi r e home :

1871.

To Mr . Mozhy. Sul / i amst ead, Readi ng, Sept ember 26t h,

1871. " I pr eached t wi ce yest er day at Uf t on t o cr owded

congr egat i ons. I shoul d t hi nk I spoke t o and shook hands

wi t h ever y man, woman, and chi l d i n Uf t on. Anni e

Di mant had gone back t he ni ght bef or e, and pl ayed t he

or gan. The school chi l dr en must er ed i n good f or ce and

seemed i n ni ce or der . The Rect or y and gr ounds l ooked

wel l , but har dl y i n such good or der t o my eyes as i t was i n

my t i me, and t he meadows wer e ver y f ul l of weeds. The

chur chyar d al so has not been much car ed f or . "

And now, t ur ni ng agai n t o hi s publ i c l i f e, per haps t he

most not ewor t hy poi nt i n i t i s t he t hor oughness and

si mpl i ci t y whi ch he t hr ew st i l l i nt o ever y act and wor d. I t

never woul d seem t o have cr ossed hi s mi nd t hat t he Bi shop

of Manchest er must t ake mor e heed t o hi s ways, be mor e

caut i ous, r et i cent , ci r cumspect , t han t he Rect or of Uf t on.

He had al ways spoken hi s exact mi nd up t o now, and meant

t o do i t t o t he end. Thus on hi s f i r st appear ance i n Con-

vocat i on he at once showed hi s qual i t y i n t hat body i n t he

222 LI FE OF BI Sr i OP FRASER. PART n.

most unequi vocal , but not whol l y accept abl e, manner . On

a mot i on of hi s f r i end, Dean Hovvson, f or t he di suse of t he

At hanasi an Cr eed i n t he Chur ch ser vi ces, he war ml y sup-

por t ed hi m. The speech i s so t hor oughl y char act er i st i c t hat

I gi ve i t al most at l engt h.

He sai d : " The Cr eed may be anci ent may be aut hent i c

may be t r ue may be pr oved by most cer t ai n war r ant s of

Hol y Scr i pt ur e, and yet may be unsui t abl e f or use i n t he

publ i c ser vi ce of t he Chur ch.

' ' To pr ove i t s sui t abl eness f or t he i nst r uct i on of t he

i gnor ant and unl ear ned, cer t ai n ver ses of i t ar e sel ect ed,

whi ch, i t i s mai nt ai ned, t he youngest chi l dr en i n our school s

can t ake i n and accept . But t hese same ver ses pr oduce an

ef f ect upon t he mi nd when t hey ar e t aken out f r om t hei r

set t i ng i n t he document qui t e di f f er ent f r om t hat whi ch t hey

pr oduce when t aken i n connect i on wi t h a number of ot her

pr oposi t i ons, whi ch ever y one must al l ow t o be si mpl y uni n-

t el l i gi bl e t o t he i gnor ant and unl ear ned. Taken as a whol e,

I can har dl y concei ve any one consi der i ng t hi s Cr eed as

mi ni st er i ng t o t he i nst r uct i on and edi f i cat i on of t he poor , or

of t he unl ear ned. I t i s cer t ai n t hat i t i s not so r egar ded i n

t he Chur ch of Rome, f or i t i s onl y used by t hem at t he ser -

vi ce of pr i me, whi ch i s al most excl usi vel y a ser vi ce f or t he

cl er gy.

" And i f , as t he Bi shop of Pet er bor ough sai d i n t he

Sout her n Convocat i on, ' wor ds mean not hi ng mor e and

not hi ng l ess t han what l ogi c and gr ammar make t hem mean, '

I bel i eve t hat t he Ar chbi shop of Cant er bur y sai d nei t her

mor e nor l ess t han t he t r ut h when he expr essed t he opi ni on

t hat nobody i n t he Chur ch of Engl and t akes t he moni t or y

cl auses i n t hei r pl ai n and l i t er al sense ; because t hat pl ai n

l i t er al sense i s t hat whoever does not hol d t he Cat hol i c f ai t h

Page 69 of 87

CHAP. i l l . FI RST SPEECH I N CONVOCATI ON. 223

as set f or t h i n t he dogmat i c st at ement s of t he At hanasi an

Cr eed, wi t hout doubt shal l per i sh ever l ast i ngl y. I f Abr aham,

I saac, and Jacob, ar e t o si t down i n t he ki ngdom of God,

some who have never been abl e t o compr ehend t he l engt h,

and hei ght , and br eadt h and dept h, of t hi s f or mul ar y, may

possi bl y si t down t her e t oo !

" I s i t pr et ended t hat t he At hanasi an Cr eed i s r j a. i r a. %

Tr apa8o6eL( r a r ot s dyt ' oi s 7r ur r i s, of whi ch St . Jude speaks ? or

t hat Gospel whi ch Paul pr eached t o t he Cor i nt hi ans, whi ch

t hey had r ecei ved, and by whi ch al so t hey wer e saved, un-

l ess t hey had bel i eved i n vai n ? a Cr eed of uncer t ai n dat e,

doubt f ul aut hor shi p, pr ecar i ous i nt er pr et at i on, not publ i cl y

used as \ ve use i t i n any ot her Chur ch i n Chr i st endom,

whi ch has never r ecei ved t he sanct i on of an ( Ecumeni cal

Counci l .

" Ther e i s a cl ause i n t he Cr eed decl ar i ng ' ever y Per son

by hi msel f t o be God and Lor d, ' whi ch does not seem t o be

much modi f i ed i n t he pr oposed new t r ansl at i on ' ever y

Per son sever al l y i s God and Lor d, ' whi ch Canon Li ddon

hi msel f admi t s can onl y be r ecei ved ' wi t h consi der abl e i nt el -

l ect ual caut i on. ' I ndeed, al l t hr ough t hi s par t of t he Cr eed,

one i s t r yi ng t o st eady one' s mi nd t o keep t o t hat nar r ow

l i ne whi ch separ at es what t he Chur ch has condemned as

Sabel l i ani sm on t he one hand, f r om Tr i t hei sm on t he ot her .

When a Cr eed cont ai ns doct r i ne of such subt l e i nt r i cacy,

and mat t er s whi ch even t heol ogi cal l y educat ed mi nds ar e

war ned t o r ecei ve wi t h caut i on, I cannot t hi nk, wi t h t he

speaker who i mmedi at el y pr eceded me, t hat i t i s a document

as a whol e f or r eci t at i on i n mi xed congr egat i ons. I n f act ,

t hi s Cr eed i l l ust r at es i n a r emar kabl e way t he manner i n

whi ch t he wi t of man, ai mi ng at a nobl e end, t r yi ng t o pi er ce

t he cl oud of dar kness i n whi ch we f eel we ar e envel oped,

and t hr ough whi ch we nat ur al l y desi r e t o' gr ope our way t o

224 LI FE OF BI SHOP ERASER. PART I I .

hi gher , and f ur t her , and cl ear er t r ut h t hi s Cr eed, I say,

i l l ust r at es i n a r emar kabl e way t he manner i n whi ch t he wi t

of men has endeavour ed t o gi ve, out of i t s own r esour ces, a

def i ni t eness beyond what i s gi ven i n Hol y Scr i pt ur e t o

r el i gi ous i deas, by put t i ng t hem i nt o t heol ogi cal t er ms.

" For t hi r t een year s of my mi ni st er i al l i f e I had char ge of

a r ur al par i sh of 200 soul s. The one i nt el l i gent man i n my

congr egat i on was t he squi r e. Whenever I st ood up t o

r eci t e t he At hanasi an Cr eed i n hi s pr esence he di d what

Ar chdeacon Chur t on has t ol d us Geor ge I I I . used t o do

he sat down at once, cl osi ng hi s pr ayer - book wi t h an angr y

sl am. And t he pai n t hi s used t o gi ve me was poor l y com-

pensat ed by hear i ng t he cl er k, and some f i f t y or si xt y

agr i cul t ur al l abour er s, r eci t i ng t hei r al t er nat e ver ses, f r om

whi ch, I doubt i f t hey r ecei ved as much edi f i cat i on as t hey

woul d have done f r om t he mor e f ami l i ar l anguage of t he

Apost l es' Cr eed.

" The amendment whi ch has been moved by an ol d and

val ued f r i end of mi ne, wi t h whom i t was once my gr eat

advant age t o be associ at ed i n t he di sci pl i ne and i nst r uct i on

of t he same col l ege i n Oxf or d " [ Rev. C. P. Eden] , " pl eads

f or del ay. Though of a somewhat i mpet uous nat ur e, I do

f eel t hat i n sol emn mat t er s l i ke t hi s, we must not r i sk t he

Page 70 of 87

per i l s of pr eci pi t ancy. I shoul d be ver y gl ad i f hi s Gr ace

t he Ar chbi shop, ami d hi s mul t i f ar i ous engagement s, coul d

f i nd us a l i t t l e mor e t i me t o di scuss t he wei ght y and ser i ous

pr obl ems t hat l i e bef or e us. But i n t hi s par t i cul ar i nst ance,

I do not see what i s t o be gai ned by del ay. The Chur ch

of Engl and has been bel at ed mor e t han once i n her eccl e-

si ast i cal hi st or y. She has done t hi ngs, and at t empt ed t o

do t hem, when t he t i me f or doi ng t hem wi sel y and wel l had

passed away. I can see not hi ng t hat can be gai ned by del ay

but an i ncr ease of st r i f e. I can har dl y bel i eve t hat t her e

CHAP. i n. UNI VERSI TY TESTS BI LL. 225

wi l l be any one i n t he Chur ch of Engl and I was goi ng t o

say, so di sl oyal , I wi l l say, so unwi se, as t o f or sake t he com-

muni on of hi s Bapt i sm, i t mi ght be t he communi on of hi s

Or di nat i on, because t he Chur ch i n t he exer ci se of a wi se

di scr et i on, whi l e st i l l r ecogni si ng t he val ue of t he At hanasi an

Cr eed as a document of her f ai t h, decl i ned any l onger t o

di st ur b t hi nki ng mi nds, or weak consci ences, by maki ng i t s

use compul sor y i n her publ i c ser vi ce. "

The speech was sal ut ar y, but di d not pr evai l . The mot i on

was car r i ed i n t he Upper House, but l ost i n t he Lower .

Equal l y char act er i st i c was hi s mai den speech i n t he

House of Lor ds, of whi ch a f ew sent ences must suf f i ce

her e.

1872.

On t he Uni ver si t y Test s Bi l l , May i o/ / / , 1872. " We

ar e l i vi ng i n an age when i t i s not wi se t o t i e t he t ongue

of any t eacher on any subj ect . I bel i eve t he t r ut h of

Chr i st i ani t y wi l l st and exami nat i on. I have no f ear f or

Chr i st i ani t y, but t he gr eat est f ear f or t he i nt er est s of r el i gi on

i f subj ect ed t o t hese obj ect i onabl e t est s. I vent ur e t o

t hi nk t hat our col l eges wi l l be ver y much i mpr oved by t he

admi ssi on of Nonconf or mi st s ; and t hat such admi ssi on

wi l l be a gai n t o t he nat i on, t o t he Nonconf or mi st s, and t o

t he Chur ch of Engl and, whi ch has suf f er ed by t he excl usi ve

possessi on of t hese pr i vi l eges and pr er ogat i ves. I do not

bel i eve t he Nonconf or mi st wi l l be one whi t behi nd t he

most ear nest member s of t he Chur ch i n maki ng t he col l eges

pl aces of sound educat i on and r el i gi on. "

These del i ver ances, so di r ect , so unexpect ed, so un-

compr omi si ng ; whi l e t hey del i ght ed and put hear t i nt o

many who wer e l osi ng hope of ever seei ng a Bi shop who

coul d under st and and speak out t hei r mi nds, gr eat l y scan-

Q

226 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

dal i zed or t hodox Chur chmen gener al l y, and i n par t i cul ar

a number of hi s ol d Oxf or d f r i ends. Whi l e Dean St anl ey

br oke out i nt o t he del i ght ed excl amat i on, " Wel l ! you do

ver ge on t he i mpr udent mor e t han any man I know ! " ot her s,

and not abl y Mr . Bur gon ( f or mer l y a f el l ow of Or i el , but

now a Dean) , f el l upon hi m i n t he pr ess wi t h an i nsol ent

assumpt i on of super i or i t y and a l oss of t emper , whi ch

woul d have r oused most men t o angr y r et or t . But nei t her

di st ur bed hi s equani mi t y, nor dr ew f r om hi m a wor d of

Page 71 of 87

r epl y. He went on hi s way, gi vi ng out const ant l y, and

wi t hout st i nt , t he best t hat was i n hi m. Thi s was t he

busi ness, as he under st ood i t , of a Fat her i n t he Chur ch.

I t was not hi s busi ness t o make t hi ngs pl easant , or conceal

any of hi s own convi ct i ons. " I hope, " as he wr ot e t o Sal e,

" I shal l be al ways st r ai ght f or war d. "

1871.

Speech at Annual Meet i ng of t he Sani t ar y Associ at i on,

May, 1871. " Ther e ar e f our r equi si t es t o heal t hy, decent

l i f e whi ch ever y Engl i shman shoul d be abl e t o command

i n our t i mes good f ood, whol esome ai r , pur e wat er , com-

pl et e dr ai nage. The f or emost heat hen nat i ons seem t o

have under st ood t hei r dut y i n t hese mat t er s bet t er t han we

do, even now. The mai n hi ndr ance t o my mi nd t o t he

wor k of t hi s excel l ent associ at i on i s l i kel y t o be cr ot chet s.

You do not seem suf f i ci ent l y i ncl i ned t o bel i eve i n exper t s

f cr t hi s wor k. ' Cui que i n sua ar t e cr edendum/ i s my

mot t o. Don' t go i n f or cr ot chet s, i s my advi ce. I have

had ver y st r i ki ng exper i ence i n t hese mat t er s. My f i r st

count r y l i vi ng was near Sal i sbur y, t o whi ch my dut y of t en

cal l ed me, and I knew i t wel l . I t was a ci t y of 14, 000

i nhabi t ant s, and was at t hat t i me al most t he most unheal t hy

of any Engl i sh ci t y. Now I see by t he l ast of f i ci al r et ur ns

CHAP. i n. THE LI BERAL CLERGY. 227

i t i s al l but at t he t op of t he l i st . Thi s shows what may

be done by wi se sani t ar y measur es. . . . Si nce I have

been a Vi ce- Pr esi dent I have been del uged wi t h pamphl et s

on t he Cont agi ous Di seases Act . For t he pr esent I must

r eser ve my j udgment on t he whol e subj ect , as I have not

been abl e t o come t o any def i ni t e concl usi on. Thi s how-

ever I am qui t e sur e of , t hat t he mor al and physi cal quest i ons

shoul d be kept qui t e di st i nct . "

1871.

Ser mon i n West mi nst er Abbey, Jul y, 1871. " To l i ve on

t he ver ge of myst er y i s t he ver y condi t i on of our human

l i f e. I f t he phenomena of nat ur al l i f e ar e most myst er i ous,

what must be t he case as t o spi r i t ual l i f e ? No r evel at i on

can be asked t o unvei l mor e t han i t i s necessar y f or man

t o know. Thi s Chr i st i ani t y does f or t he spi r i t ual l i f e. The

r eadi est and best expl anat i on of t he whol e myst er y i s, t hat

a l ovi ng God i s r est or i ng t he cr eat i on by Hi s Son and Hi s

Spi r i t . We have l ost t he not e of uni t y, but we need not

l ose t he not e of l ove. That one st r ong cabl e i s enough.

Wi t hout i t t her e must be t he unst abl e mi nd, t he dr aggi ng

anchor whi ch wr ecks f ai t h, and i s as bad f or soul s as f or

shi ps. The t r ue at t i t ude of man' s wi l l i s humi l i t y. "

Dean St anl ey, and al l t he Li ber al cl er gy of London, Mr .

Ll ewel yn Davi es, S. Hansar d, and ot her s, wer e al ways on

t he l ook- out f or hi m on t he occasi ons of hi s r ar e at t endances

at t he House of Lor ds, so t hat even when i n London he

got l i t t l e r est on Sundays. As t o t hat assembl y, " when I

go t o t he House, " he sai d j oki ngl y, " I al ways f eel as i f t he

of f i ci al s kept an eye on me l est I shoul d be come f or some

of t he coat s. I f i t wer e not f or my apr on and knee br eeches

I bel i eve t hey woul d beckon f or t he pol i ce. "

Q 2

Page 72 of 87

228 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

1870.

Pr i ze Day at Rossal l School , June, 1870. Thi s gat her i ng

consi st ed mai nl y of Lancashi r e manuf act ur er s and busi ness

men. " Li st en t o me ! Don' t put your boys t o busi ness

t i l l you have gi ven t hem a t hor ough, sound, l i ber al educat i on.

Thi s i s made up of t hr ee el ement s, povo- i K- r ) , ypaf i f i ar i K^ ,

yvpvaf r r i Kr i , as t he wi se ol d heat hens t aught ; and t hat ol d

syst em whi ch Engl and has adopt ed i n her ol d Uni ver si t i es

and school s has pr oduced, and wi l l cont i nue t o pr oduce t he

best speci mens of men and ci t i zens. I am bound per haps,

however , t o admi t t hat of l at e t he yvf i vaa- nK- r j has been a

l i t t l e over done. "

Consecr at i on of Bacup Cemet er y, August , 1870. At t he

consecr at i on ser vi ce i n t he mor ni ng t he Bi shop had sai d,

" St . Paul cal l s t he r esur r ect i on of t he body a gr eat myst er y,

and I hope you won' t ask or expect me t o expl ai n i t . . .

but t he onl y t hi ng whi ch wi l l keep you f r om t he r esur r ect i on

of t he body, what ever t hat may be, wi l l be obst i nacy,

har dness of hear t , cont i nuance i n t he devi l ' s ways. "

At t he di nner whi ch f ol l owed, t he chai r man i n pr oposi ng

hi s heal t h admi t t ed t hat he had been wat chi ng hi m now

f or si x mont hs, and t hought t hey had got t he r i ght man i n

t he r i ght pl ace. I n r epl y t he Bi shop sai d, he knew t hat

most of t hose pr esent wer e not of hi s communi on, but by

t he const i t ut i on of hi s mi nd he coul dn' t be a par t i san. He

was somet hi ng of a Laodi cean, and admi t t ed ( as he had

been war ned i n t he paper s) t hat i mpat i ence was hi s danger .

However , anyhow he was gl ad t o wor k wi t h al l of t hem

whenever he coul d, t hough he f el t t hat hi s syst em was much

bet t er t han t hei r s.

At a gr eat Sunday School Demonst r at i on i n t he Cor por a-

t i on Par k at Bl ackbur n, at whi ch 16, 000 chi l dr en and t hei r

CHAP. i n. WORKI NG MEN' S MI SSI ON. 229

t eacher s wer e pr esent . " Our Nat i onal Chur ch cannot

af f or d t o be t he chur ch of t he pr i vi l eged cl asses. I t must

be by i t s const i t ut i on t he Chur ch of t he whol e peopl e,

t ol er ant , cat hol i c, evangel i cal , compr ehensi ve, conci l i at or y

. . . . I am sur pr i sed mysel f t o f i nd t he l oyal t y t o t he

Nat i onal Chur ch i n t hi s di ocese and gr eat count y of

Lancashi r e. I n f i f t y year s some of you chi l dr en may

r emember my wor ds, and I t el l you t hat t hen you wi l l be

l i vi ng i n a count r y mor e happy, bet t er educat ed, mor e

ci vi l i sed, mor e uni t ed, and mor e r el i gi ous, t han we ar e who

ar e now t r eadi ng t hi s Engl i sh soi l . "

I t i s t i me t o pass on f r om t hi s f i r st year , t o whi ch mor e

space has been gi ven t han can be spar ed t o any of t hose

whi ch f ol l ow. The chapt er may cl ose wi t h t wo mor e

abbr evi at ed speeches, and a not e f r om hi s ol d school f el l ow

Lor d Li ngen.

June, 1870. At a meet i ng of t he " Wor ki ng Men' s Evan-

gel i st i c Mi ssi on, " t o r ai se f unds f or bui l di ng a t aber nacl e, he

sai d he was awar e t hat he was not st andi ng on a Chur ch

pl at f or m, but i f he t hought t he di ssent i ng pl at f or m mor e

sol i d and br oader t han t hat of t he Chur ch he shoul d be a

Di ssent er and not a Chur chman. . . . Thi s he under st ood

Page 73 of 87

t o be a speci al ef f or t t o meet a Soci et y f or t he Pr opagat i on

of Ant i - Chr i st i an At hei sm whi ch had been est abl i shed

amongst t hem. The power s of evi l wer e bei ng ar r ayed

mor e act i vel y t han ever , and he coul d wi sh Godspeed, and

gi ve al l t he hel p i n hi s power , t o any ef f or t whi ch seemed

l i ke t o ext end or st r engt hen hi s Mast er ' s Ki ngdom. He

must gi ve t hem one war ni ng, however . As he under st ood

i t , t he congr egat i on whi ch woul d gat her i n t hi s t aber nacl e

was t o be what he mi ght cal l a t r ansi t i onal one. I t was

meant f or bi r ds of passage, not f or a l ocal congr egat i on.

230 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

Thi s was wel l . But he must war n t hem not t o dr i f t i nt o

any at t empt t o f ound a new sect . That t hey must avoi d

as a r ock on whi ch t hey mi ght st r i ke, and pr obabl y f ounder .

For hi msel f , he r ej oi ced t o be t her e. I n t wo mont hs he

had al r eady conf i r med upwar ds of 4, 000 young f ol k, but

t hey wer e al most al l of what wer e cal l ed t he r espect abl e

cl asses. The Chur ch ought not t o be cont ent wi t h t hat . "

Jul y, 1870. At a meet i ng of The Eveni ng Vi si t or s

Soci et y " He al ways f el t most sat i sf act i on when wor ki ng

on hi s ol d l i nes as a count r y par son t eachi ng boys t o l ove

God and t hei r school f el l ows goi ng f r om cot t age t o cot t age

and hear i ng si mpl e t al es of sor r ow and suf f er i ng. Thi s was

t hei r wor k, and he sai d now agai n, as he had sai d bef or e, i t

ought t o be or gani sed. He saw i n t he paper s, ' Oh, t he

Bi shop want s a convent or a monast er y. ' That was, he sup-

posed, because he had sai d t hat t he Roman Cat hol i c met hods

wer e bet t er f or gr eat t owns t han t hose of our Chur ch ; and

he t hought so st i l l . The Bi shop ought t o be t he chi ef

mi ni st er i n a di ocese l i ke t hi s, wi t h a speci al st af f whi ch he

coul d send about wher e t hey wer e most want ed. He hi m-

sel f ought t o have at l east hal f a do/ en chur ch houses, wi t h

t hr ee cl er gy i n each of t hem, f or such wor k as t hi s. An

i dea of t hi s ki nd had been sl umber i ng i n hi s mi nd t hese

f our t een year s, and he shoul d l i ke t o see hi s way t o maki ng

i t a r eal i t y. "

1871.

" I f ever t her e was a soci abl e and sympat het i c man he

was one, " Lor d Li ngen, hi s ol d f r i end, wr i t es i n r ef er ence

t o t hi s per i od, " pl easant l y i nqui si t i ve and r eady t o t al k t o

any one. I r emember t he ni ght when t he gr eat r eposi t or y

i n Bel gr avi a was bur nt down, he and I had wal ked acr oss

Hyde Par k t o my house, and, havi ng seen t her e was a gr eat

f i r e i n t hat di r ect i on had st ar t ed af t er di nner t o l ook f or i t .

CHAP. i n. BI SHOP OF ALL DENOMI NATI ONS. 231

Fr aser sai d t o a casual byst ander , ' Ther e i s a gr eat deal of

pr oper t y bei ng dest r oyed, how much do you t hi nk i t i s

wor t h ? ' The man answer ed, ' About f i ve mi l l i ons I shoul d

say. ' Wher eupon Fr aser sai d, i n t he gent l est way, ' Oh,

har dl y so much as t hat , ' and pr oceeded t o st at e why he

t hought t he est i mat e excessi ve. I can qui t e under st and

how hi s hear t , al ways showi ng i t sel f good i n cont act , how-

ever sl i ght , wi t h hi s f el l owmen, won f or hi m t hat char act er

i n hi s di ocese whi ch made t he Manchest er peopl e, wi t h t he

t r uest i nst i nct , desi r e t o have a st at ue of hi m out of door s.

i n some pl ace of publ i c r esor t . Hi s r eadi ness t o t al k t o

ever y one al ways r emi nded me of what Thi r l wal l says of

Page 74 of 87

Socr at es, ' He became one of t he most conspi cuous and

not or i ous per sons at At hens. Ther e per haps was har dl y

a mechani c who had not , at some t i me or ot her , been

puzzl ed or di ver t ed by hi s quest i ons. ' "

Af t er r eadi ng t he above ext r act s f r om, and condensat i ons

of , hi s ut t er ances i n t hi s f i r st year , whi ch coul d be easi l y

mul t i pl i ed t enf ol d, r eader s wi l l pr obabl y have no di f f i cul t y i n

under st andi ng how i t came t o pass t hat by t he end of t hat

t i me he had al r eady ear ned t he t i t l e of " t he Bi shop of al l

Denomi nat i ons. "

As t hi s chapt er commenced, so i t may wel l end, wi t h

wor ds spoken of t he gr eat Ar chbi shop of t he sevent eent h

cent ur y, whi ch mi ght wel l have been wr i t t en of Bi shop

Fr aser : " A decent but gr ave cheer f ul ness, made hi s con-

ver sat i on as l i vel y and agr eeabl e as i t was usef ul and i n-

st r uct i ng. He was ever i n good humour : al ways t he same ;

bot h accessi bl e and af f abl e. He hear d ever yt hi ng pat i ent l y ;

was apt nei t her t o mi st ake nor suspect ; hi s own gr eat

candour di sposi ng hi m t o put t he best const r uct i on, and t o

j udge most f avour abl y of al l per sons and t hi ngs. "

CHAPTER I V.

" I f any exi st i ng soci et y or chur ch i s t o be t he nucl eus of a new syst em

i t can onl y be by t he sl oughi ng of f much t hat i s ol d. But I hope t hi s

wi l l be done r at her by t he i mpul se of new l i f e f r om wi t hi n t han by any

wr ench f r om wi t hout . The quant i t y of i nwar dness, f ai t hf ul ness, and

power whi ch has come bef or e me i n my own gener at i on, cannot , I t hi nk,

pass away wi t hout hel pi ng t owar ds some gr eat out war d r evol ut i on. "

J. STERLI NG t o JULI US HARE, Li f e, p. 79.

MANCHESTER, 1871 1875.

1871.

THE next year s of hi s epi scopat e must be passed over

r api dl y. I t wi l l be onl y possi bl e t o i ndi cat e gener al l y t he

l i nes on whi ch he car r i ed out t he wor k he had l ai d down f or

hi msel f , whi ch wi l l be best done by shor t ext r act s f r om

speeches and l et t er s, wi t h t he l east possi bl e comment . I t i s

wi t hi n t he mar k t o say t hat , except i n t he shor t hol i days he

al l owed hi msel f , and t he ver y r ar e occasi ons on whi ch he

was kept at home by i l l ness, scar cel y a day passed i n whi ch

he di d not do some publ i c wor k. Most men whose sense

of dut y mi ght compel t hem t o l i ve such a l i f e i n whi ch

eveni ngs wer e near l y as much occupi ed as t he day

woul d have f al l en i nt o mer e mechani cal dr udges, doggedl y

get t i ng t hr ough t hei r dai l y t al e of t al k, consul t at i on, ad-

moni t i on, encour agement , but l osi ng t hei r hol d day by day

on cur r ent pol i t i cs and l i t er at ur e, and on al l soci al quest i ons

out si de t hei r r out i ne wor k. Not hi ng of t he ki nd happened

t o hi m. The or der and met hod whi ch had become a

CHAP. i v. A RECOGNI SED LEADER. 233

second nat ur e t o hi m, hel ped hi m her e ; and, ei t her i n hi s

odds and ends of t i me at home, or i n hi s j our neys about hi s

di ocese, when he al ways car r i ed some book he want ed t o

r ead, he managed t o keep abr east of t he best t hought and

l i t er at ur e of hi s t i me. " Man' s f i r st wor d i s Yes ; hi s second

No ; hi s t hi r d and l ast , Yes ; and whi l e t he bul k of men

st op shor t at t he f i r st , ver y f ew at t ai n t o t he t hi r d, " says

Jul i us Har e, and t he sayi ng hol ds t r ue of most of us. But

Page 75 of 87

t her e ar e men, and t he Bi shop was one of t hem, who r each

t he f i nal Yes wi t hout havi ng had t o pass t hr ough t he second

or negat i ve st age. He made hi msel f acquai nt ed wi t h al l our

moder n specul at i ons, agnost i c, at hei st i c, posi t i ve, but mor e

because he f ound t hat he want ed such knowl edge t o do hi s

own wor k of " mi ni st er i ng" t hor oughl y t han because hi s

f ai t h i n t he Gospel t he good news of God he had l ear nt at

hi s mot her ' s knee ever f al t er ed. The negat i ve t endency

whi ch must have been i n hi m as i n ever y man, was hel d i n

check, and def eat ed by t he pur i t y and pr act i cal act i vi t y of

hi s l i f e. He who i s i n ear nest dai l y conf l i ct wi t h t he f al se-

hood and di sor der whi ch he f i nds i n hi msel f and al l ar ound

hi m, i s of al l men l east l i kel y t o be t r oubl ed by t he uni ver sal

" No. " Such men l ear nt as by t ui t i on, what comes t o most of

us onl y as t he r esul t of l ong and pai nf ul ef f or t and exper i ence

t hat t her e ar e dept hs i n human hear t s, and r egi ons i n

human l i ves, whi ch no pl ummet of man' s i nt el l ect or r eason

can sound, and so wi l l nei t her wander out i nt o t he wi l der -

ness, nor beat t hei r heads agai nst st one wal l s.

I t may be t aken t hen t hat , by t he aut umn of 1871 t he

bi shop' s posi t i on was t hor oughl y est abl i shed and r ecogni sed.

He had been t est ed by al l manner of per sons, i n al l ki nds of

posi t i ons and ci r cumst ances, and had pr oved hi msel f a st r ong

man al l r ound, who must be r eckoned wi t h by ever y one who,

whet her f or publ i c or per sonal r easons, want ed t o i nf l uence

234 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i r .

t he spi r i t ual or soci al l i f e of any cor ner of Lancashi r e. He

had become al r eady a power , whi ch empl oyer s of l abour and

t r ades' uni oni st s, newspaper edi t or s and pol i t i ci ans, as wel l

as cl er gy and t hei r f l ocks, had t o t ake account of , whet her

t hey l i ked i t or not a man, t oo, wi t h no weak si de wi t hout

vani t y and wi t hout cr ot chet s of whom i t mi ght be t r ul y

sai d, as Car l yl e wr ot e of Schi l l er , " Abst r act ed f r om t he con-

t empl at i on of hi msel f , hi s eye was t ur ned upon t he obj ect s

of hi s l abour , and he pur sued t hem wi t h t he eager ness, t he

ent i r eness, t he spont aneous si ncer i t y, of a boy pur sui ng spor t . "

He had, i n shor t , been pl aced by accl ai m at t he head of

t he r el i gi ous and soci al l i f e of hi s di ocese. Fr om scavenger s

and ni ght - soi l men up t o t he ol d count y f ami l i es, t he hear t y

Nor t her n f ol k had l ear nt t o accept hi m on hi s own t er ms,

and wer e r eady wi t h cor di al act and wor d t o second and

sust ai n hi m.

One anecdot e may ser ve t o show how he had br ought t he

di ocese r ound. I n hi s f i r st vi si t at i on t o Nor t h Lancashi r e

some of hi s out spoken ut t er ances on mat t er s whi ch ol d-

f ashi oned peopl e hel d t o be out si de a bi shop' s pr ovi nce, had

annoyed and al ar med one of t he pr i nci pal l andowner s and

Chur chmen Mr . Townl ey Par ker who expr essed hi msel f

st r ongl y i n t hi s sense i n t he pr esence of hi s r ect or ' s wi f e.

She, f r esh f r om t he bi shop' s addr ess t o t hei r candi dat es f or

Conf i r mat i on, pr ot est ed t hat her squi r e was ent i r el y mi st aken,

and woul d have t o change hi s mi nd. Mr . Par ker r epl i ed t hat

t her e was so l i t t l e chance of t hat t hat he woul d gi ve her i oo/ .

f or any pur pose she l i ked t o name i f ever t hi s bi shop ent er ed

hi s door s. Some mont hs l at er he came agai n t o Nor t h

Lancashi r e, and Mr . Par ker met hi m at a nei ghbour ' s house

at di nner . 1 A week l at er t he r ect or ' s wi f e got a not e f r om

1 The Rev. I I . Hawki ns, Vi car of Lyt ham, who was pr esent , wr i t es

t o cor r ect t he st at ement i n t he t ext , " I t was not at t he di nner , at

Page 76 of 87

CHAP. I V. NO PARTY POLI TI CI AN. 235

her squi r e aski ng her and her husband t o meet t hei r bi shop,

and addi ng t hat t he i oo/ . woul d be pai d t o her or der by hi s

banker s. I t was i nvest ed by t he t r i umphant l ady i n a

por t r ai t of her husband by Rol l .

Now we may t ur n t o hi s sayi ngs and doi ngs.

Sept . St / i , 1871. " Those Or angemen at John t he Bapt i st ' s

have, I see, been open- mout hed at me agai n. I don' t t hi nk

t hei r bar ki ng wi l l do me any har m ; cer t ai nl y i t wi l l not make

me al t er my cour se. " Thi s par i sh was amongst t he most

t r oubl esome i n t he di ocese, and occupi ed as much of hi s

at t ent i on as mi l i t ant chur chwar dens and par i shi oner s coul d

manage t o monopol i se. Amongst t he l at t er was a Mr .

Chapman, a j our nal i st , who became a f r i end and cor r e-

spondent , but whose f i r st appeal dr ew f or t h onl y,

Nov. 27/ 7* , 1871. " Pr ay l et me dr aw your at t ent i on t o

t he di f f er ence bet ween Chr i st i an mor al i t y and t he mor al i t y

of Chr i st i ans. "

1872.

Feb. 2f / / i , 1872. To Mr . Chapman, acknowl edgi ng r epor t

of i ndi gnat i on meet i ng at Hul me upon hi s r ef usal as bi shop

t o i nt er f er e aut hor i t at i vel y : " I f my gener al char act er wi l l

not sust ai n me I must t ake my chance wi t h ot her peopl e

who ar e mi sr epr esent ed. I have no sympat hy wi t h t he

eccl esi ast i cal pr act i ces al l eged t o be i n use i n Hul me, but I

wi l l not hel p t o t hr ow a har d- wor ki ng ( i f mi st aken) cl er gyman

i nt o t he power of a pack of f anat i cal Or angemen, whose

pol i t i cal cr eed seems t o be t hei r r el i gi on. "

Lyt ham Hal l , on t he eve of t he consecr at i on of St . Anne' s Chur ch, t hat

Mr . Townl ey Par ker ' s conver sat i on t ook pl ace. To t he end of t he

eveni ng he woul d not speak t o t he bi shop, or go near hi m ; and he

expr essed hi msel f t o me most st r ongl y, when I wi shed hi m good- ni ght .

I t was t he bi shop' s ser mon next mor ni ng at St . Anne' s Chur ch whi ch

br ought Mr . Townl ey Par ker over . Ver y t ouchi ng i t was, t he way t he

ol d man br oke down i n t he Communi on ser vi ce. "

236 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

Feb. 2<) t / i , 1872. To t he Same. " Pol i t i cs i n t he pr oper

sense of t he wor d, ar e a nobl e depar t ment of human act i vi t y,

and i n t hi s sense not onl y may, but ought , t o be gover ned by

r el i gi ous pr i nci pl es. But mer e par t i sanshi p, t he wr et ched

quest i ons whi ch gender so much st r i f e and bi t t er ness, wi t h-

out havi ng any t endency t o i ncr ease t he sum of human

happi ness or human vi r t ue, i s a ver y di f f er ent t hi ng. I am

no pol i t i ci an beyond wi shi ng t o see good gover nment est ab-

l i shed, equal l aws pr evai l i ng, and i nt el l i gence uni ver sal l y

di f f used. "

Apr i l $ot h, 1872. To t he Same. " I am sor r y t hat I can-

not see my way t o i nt er f er i ng, or any hope of my i nt er f er i ng

wi t h success. These br oi l s i n par i shes, par t l y t he of f spr i ng

of f ol l y, par t l y of obst i nacy, f i l l me wi t h anxi et y and di st r ess,

and make me wi sh agai n and agai n t hat I had never l ef t my

qui et l i t t l e vi l l age i n Ber ks, wher e such anxi et i es wer e ut t er l y

unknown. "

Page 77 of 87

May. To t he edi t or of Punch, who had wr i t t en t o com-

pl ai n of a publ i shed r emar k of t he bi shop' s whi ch seemed t o

r ef l ect on t hat j our nal . " I have of t en admi r ed t he ski l l and

r i ght f eel i ng wi t h whi ch your ar t i st s t ouch del i cat e gr ound. "

On whi ch t he edi t or comment ed, " We can har dl y r egr et an

acci dent whi ch has af f or ded t he bi shop an oppor t uni t y of

showi ng how an act of j ust i ce can be done gr acef ul l y. "

Di ocesan Synod. " I was not at f i r st f avour abl e t o i t , but

t he wi sh of t he cl er gy as r epor t ed by t he r ur al deans bei ng

unani mous, gl adl y adopt t hei r vi ew. As t o t he obj ect i on

t hat i t i s ' not l egal , ' i t i s al l owed t o al l cl asses of Her

Maj est y' s subj ect s t o meet f or conf er ence so l ong as t hey do

not br eak t he peace. " At t he synod whi ch f ol l owed, t he

CHAP. i v. NO SENTI MENTALI ST. 237

quest i on of r i t ual i sm bei ng under di scussi on, he sai d : " The

symbol i sm of Euchar i st i c vest ment s, l i ght ed candl es, t he

east war d posi t i on, i ndi cat e t he doct r i ne t hat t he mi ni st er i s.

of f er i ng a pr opi t i at or y sacr i f i ce, and t hi s i s not t he doct r i ne

of our Chur ch. . . The whol e congr egat i on i s a r oyal

pr i est hood, and not a si ngl e pl ace can be f ound i n t he Bi bl e

wher e a mi ni st er of t he New Test ament i s cal l ed ' Upevs. ' ; >

1873-

1873. On Chur ch Par t y Or gani sat i ons. - I n answer t o

t he Counci l of t he Chur ch Associ at i on aski ng hi m t o modi f y

or wi t hdr aw r emar ks he had made as t o t hat body :

" I am sor r y t hat my l anguage at St ockpor t ' t hat t he

Chur ch Uni on and your Chur ch Associ at i on have become

i nst r ument s of par t y, l endi ng t hemsel ves t o per secut i ons, ' has

gi ven of f ence. I cannot , however , r et r act or modi f y i t . The

t emper of such associ at i ons seems t o me t o be essent i al l y

i nt ol er ant and per secut i ng, " and i n a l et t er some weeks l at er

t o t he same : " I never r ead t he r epor t of a meet i ng of ' t he

Chur ch Uni on or Chur ch Associ at i on i n whi ch I cannot di s -

cer n t r aces of t he same spi r i t , i ndi cat i ng t o my mi nd t hat

t hese t wo gr eat ant agoni sms, by i nt ensi f yi ng poi nt s of di f f er -

ence, and i gnor i ng t hose on whi ch t hey ar e agr eed, ar e

r ender i ng t he pr ospect s of uni on and br ot her hood i n t he

Chur ch of Engl and on t he basi s of t he Book of Common

Pr ayer mor e di st ant and hopel ess t han ever . "

At a Cl er i cal Meet i ng. " Let t hose dr eam dr eams who

pl ease. The si mpl e t r ut h- seeki ng st udent of St . Paul ' s

l et t er s knows t hat t he Chur ches of Rome, Cor i nt h, Gal at i a,

Col ossse, wer e beset wi t h as many di f f i cul t i es doct r i nal ,

r i t ual i st i c, di sci pl i nar y some of t hem t ouchi ng t he f ounda-

t i ons of t he f ai t h, as t he Chur ch of Engl and i s now. Easy

238 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART i i .

t i mes ar e f or l i f el ess Chur ches l i ke Sar di s, f or l ukewar m

Chur ches l i ke Laodi cea. . . . I t was an evi l hour when t he

Chur ch t hought her sel f obl i ged t o add t o or devel op t he

si mpl e ar t i cl es of t he Apost l es' Cr eed. "

Upon f ancy pi ct ur es of heaven, and sent i ment al t al k

about l ongi ng t o meet God f ace t o f ace, " I vent ur e t o say

t her e i s not one per son her e who wi shes ' t o put on i mmor -

t al i t y. ' Let peopl e not t al k such st uf f , and be a l i t t l e mor e

Page 78 of 87

r eal about t hei r r el i gi on. The sent i ment al i sm of our day

i s one of t he subt l est of our r el i gi ous per i l s. " . . . " Moder n

hymns ar e f or t he most par t st r angel y namby - pamby, many

of t hem gr ossl y mat er i al i st i c, t hose addr essed t o our Lor d

gener al l y unct uous and sent i ment al . "

To Meet i ng of Wor ki ng Men' s Wi ves. " You must wi n

your chi l dr en ear l y i f you woul d wi n t hem at al l . Above

al l you must not al l ow any chi l d of ni ne or t en, when he

br i ngs you home hi s wages, t o see t hat you spend t hem al l

on your sel ves, and l et hi m go hal f - st ar ved. Thi s I know i s

done i n number l ess cases. "

At a Publ i c Meet i ng, Br adf or d. " The Chur ch wi t h al l

her f aul t s i s l abour i ng f or Chr i st , and as one of her Bi shops

I cal l on al l you Nonconf or mi st s t o have a l i t t l e mor e char i t y

i n your wor ds and conduct t owar ds her . "

1874.

Apr i l , 1874. Pr esi di ng at a l ect ur e on " Cooker y f or t he

Si ck Room, " at t he r equest of t he Manchest er School of

Cooker y : " You have el ect ed me your pr esi dent and so I

ought t o pr esi de, t hough I do so wi t h much di f f i dence, f or I

know not hi ng of t he subj ect . Per haps t hi s may be l ooked

CHAP. i v. A CHURCHMAN' S LI BERTY. 239

on as a mi ssi on of gast r onomi c phi l ant hr opy. I expect ed

onl y t o have a f emal e audi ence, but I see t hat t her e ar e

some men her e, l ed by t he i r r epr essi bl e cur i osi t y of t hei r

sex ; al so my i nevi t abl e f r i ends t he r epor t er s, but f or whom

I shoul d not enj oy t he bad char act er I have got t hr oughout

Engl and. " Af t er whi ch pr ef ace he pr oceeds t o ur ge t he

dut y of gr eat er economy i n gi vi ng di nner s.

I n Dec. , 1874, he was agai n i n cor r espondence wi t h t he

Chur chwar dens of St . John' s, Hul me, Mr . Andr ew and hi s

suppor t er s bei ng st i l l t r oubl ed at t he r ect or ' s pr act i ces. " I

mar k my l et t er s pr i vat e, " t he Bi shop wr i t es, " because I

obj ect t o your pr act i ce of handi ng t hem over t o t he anony -

mous secr et ar i es of a l ocal or gani sat i on f or comment i n t he

pr ess. I t i s a pr oceedi ng t o whi ch I am not accust omed

and t o whi ch I have a r i ght t o obj ect . " The out come of

t he cor r espondence was t hat t he Bi shop obj ect ed t o one

hymn i n use i n t he Chur ch but r ef used t o i nt er f er e, and

Chur chwar den Andr ew r et i r ed f r om t he encount er " wi t h

unf ei gned di smay. "

Jan. , 1875. " Mr . Br i ght i n a r ecent speech has been

dr awi ng a pi ct ur e of t he Chur ch of Engl and i n whi ch, wi t h

hi s usual power , he has r epr esent ed her mi ni st er s as ' f l yi ng

at each ot her ' s t hr oat s, ' ' i n f et t er s, ' ' t ongue- t i ed. ' I have t o

r ub my eyes, on r eadi ng t hi s, and ask mysel f i f I am asl eep.

I f i nd I can move pr et t y f r eel y i n t he l i mi t s al l owed by t he

Chur ch . . . . . . A good deal of what passes as r el i gi on

nowadays seems f ond of par adi ng behi nd bands and f l ags

t hr ough t he st r eet s, but i s sel dom f ound i n a pl ace of

wor shi p. I don' t car e t he snap of my f i nger f or t hat ki nd

of r el i gi on. The Chur ch of Engl and doesn' t want i t . " We

Page 79 of 87

240 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

shal l see t hat he t o some ext ent modi f i ed t hi s opi ni on i n

l at er year s.

Oct . i sf . " I am sur pr i sed and sor r y t o hear t hat t he

bel l s of t he Cat hedr al and of t he par i sh Chur ch at Bl ack -

bur n wer e set r i ngi ng t o cel ebr at e an el ect i on t r i umph.

The Chur ch of Engl and has no r i ght , and no busi ness, t o

mi x her sel f up wi t h par t y pol i t i cs. "

To t he cl er gy, at a meet i ng of t he Br i t i sh and For ei gn

Bi bl e Soci et y : " When you ar e asked quest i ons about t he

meani ng of i sol at ed t ext s have t he cour age t o say ' I don' t

know. ' Peopl e ar e, or f ancy t hey ar e, t r oubl ed about

f ant ast i c quest i ons, such as whet her i t i s a necessar y par t of

a savi ng f ai t h t o bel i eve i n a devi l . A man can be saved

wi t hout bel i evi ng i n a devi l . But what we have t o t each i s,

t hat no devi l or evi l spi r i t can bi nd even a chi l d unt i l i t

sur r ender s i t s wi l l . "

He was f ond i n hi s speeches of get t i ng of f a j oke at hi s

own expense. Thus : " A l ady, he was t ol d, when asked

what she had br ought away af t er a ser vi ce at whi ch he had

l at el y pr eached, r epl i ed t hat ' t he Bi shop' s sl eeves want ed

washi ng. ' That was ver y l i kel y, as he al ways car r i ed t hem

i n hi s bag. "

Her e ar e a f ew of t he sayi ngs whi ch br ought on hi m

angr y comment . " Habi t ual conf essi on and absol ut i on i s a

pr act i ce f r aught wi t h ever y concei vabl e mi schi ef ; not so

publ i c congr egat i onal conf essi on. "

" I t was an evi l day when t he Chur ch added t o t he

Apost l es' Cr eed ' cur i ous r et i cul at i ons of f ai t h. ' As soon

as she began t o mul t i pl y dogmas she had t o f ul mi nat e

anat hemas. One gr eat secr et of Chr i st ' s i nf l uence was

t hat He t ur ned men' s t hought s away f r om t he di scussi ons

of t he Rabbi s. "

CHAP. i v. WORKI NG MEN' S CLUBS. 241

" The di f f er ence of opi ni on whi ch she al l ows t o her

chi l dr en i s t he gl or y of our Nat i onal Chur ch. "

" Chr i st i ans must al ways be gr owi ng, but nowadays we

ar e t r yi ng t o gr ow by t aki ng dr ugs i nst ead of f ood. "

To Wor ki ng Men. " I f your educat i on doesn' t t each

you t o say, ' As l ong as I can hel p mysel f I wi l l ask no

ot her man t o hel p me, ' i t i s a bad educat i on. "

To Bel l r i nger s : " I f t hei r hands wer e r equi r ed . t o be

cl ean who bor e t he vessel s of t he Sanct uar y, t hei r hear t s

shoul d be pur e who r i ng t he bel l s of t he Lor d. "

At meet i ngs at or f or Wor ki ng Men' s Cl ubs, of whi ch he

was at f i r st a war m advocat e. " When i n London, but f or

t he r est r ai nt of my apr on and gai t er s, I mi ght have t o

spend my eveni ngs at a publ i c- house, i f I had not been

made a member of t he At hen^ un when I was made a

Bi shop. "

Manchest er . " I appr ove speci al l y of t he br eadt h of your

member shi p, t hat you pr opose t o i ncl ude member s of al l

pol i t i cal and eccl esi ast i cal par t i es. I hope you wi l l st i ck t o

Page 80 of 87

t hi s. I f you do, and r emai n open t o al l Chur chmen, when

I am det ai ned i n t own af t er 5 at my somewhat gl oomy den

i n St . James' s Squar e, I shal l hope of t en t o spend an hour

or t wo her e over a t ender mut t on chop, and see what The

Rock, and The Chur ch Ti mes, and The Manchest er Cour i er

paper s I don' t ver y of t en see at home ar e sayi ng about

me. "

Rochdal e. " I see your Cl ub i s f ounded on a non-

r el i gi ous basi s, whi ch i s qui t e r i ght . You al so al l ow your

member s t o be suppl i ed wi t h dr i nk, t he pr of i t goi ng t o t he

Cl ub f unds. That i s qui t e r i ght al so, i f kept wi t hi n pr oper

l i mi t s, as i t seems t o be her e, f or I see t hat t he con-

R

242 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PARTI I .

sumpt i on of your member s f or t he year aver ages i / . a

head, wher eas t he aver age of t he whol e count r y i s 7/ . a

head. "

I t i s sad f or one who, l i ke t he Bi shop, has been a sup-

por t er of Wor ki ng Men' s Cl ubs si nce Mr . Hodgson Pr at t ,

t hei r chi ef advocat e and pr omot er , st ar t ed on hi s cr usade, t o

have t o r ecor d hi s l at est vi ews on t he subj ect . I n Apr i l ,

1885, onl y si x mont hs bef or e hi s deat h he was pr esent at a

gat her i ng at Owens Col l ege, at whi ch Mr . Goschen del i ver ed

an addr ess on t he Uni ver si t y ext ensi on movement , ur gi ng t he

i mpor t ance of sendi ng t hor oughl y t r ai ned l ect ur er s i nt o al l

t he gr eat cent r es of i ndust r i al l i f e, and suggest i ng t hat t he

Cl ubs shoul d be i nvi t ed t o wor k wi t h t he Uni ver si t i es. The

Bi shop sai d, " t hat he had been an ear l y and hopef ul wel l -

wi sher t o t he Cl ub movement , but , goi ng about as he di d

amongst al l t he Lancashi r e t owns, he was sor r y t o say he had

f ound t hese Cl ubs doi ng anyt hi ng but ai di ng and r ai si ng t he

soci al and i nt el l ect ual l i f e and habi t s of t he wor ki ng men.

Per haps wel l - syst emat i sed cour ses of l ect ur es, i f t hey coul d

be est abl i shed at t he Cl ubs as cent r es, mi ght br i ng t hem

back t o a hi gher i deal . He hear t i l y wi shed success at any

r at e t o any ef f or t i n t hi s di r ect i on. "

Jan. l yt / i , 1875. The Chur chwar dens of hi s Cat hedr al

f ol l ow hi m t o London, wher e he has gone f or a f ew days,

wi t h a compl ai nt t hat " Canon Woodwar d has been pr each-

i ng t he doct r i ne of t he Mass. " Fr om t he At henaeum t he

Bi shop r epl i es, " Of cour se I can' t r ef use t o compl y wi t h

t he r equest of your sel f and your col l eagues, and wi l l wr i t e t o

Canon Woodwar d f or hi s ser mon ; I can onl y hope t hat on

a subj ect so myst er i ous, and on whi ch consi der abl e l at i t ude

has al ways been al l owed i n t he Chur ch of Engl and, hi s l an-

guage may have been mi sunder st ood. "

CHAP. i v. EXAMI NATI ON OF CANDI DATES. 243

1875. Pr esi di ng at f i r st Di ocesan Conf er ence. " I have

never been abl e t o ascer t ai n what i s t he exact ki nd of Cour t

i t i s whi ch t he Chur ch Uni on woul d consi der t o be spi r i t ual ;

why a Chancel l or appoi nt ed by t he Bi shop shoul d be mor e

a spi r i t ual j udge t han t he same man appoi nt ed by t he

Queen. Why Si r Rober t Phi l l i mor e shoul d be a secul ai

j udge i n t he Admi r al t y and a spi r i t ual j udge i n t he Cour t

Page 81 of 87

of Ar ches. I f t he l aw r equi r es me t o wear a cope, t hough I

don' t l i ke t he not i on of maki ng a guy of mysel f , I wi l l wear i t . "

The di ocese was by t hi s t i me i n t hor ough wor ki ng or der ,

so her e i t may be wel l t o show how t he most i mpor t ant of

t he Bi shop' s f unct i ons, t he or dai ni ng of pr i est s and dea-

cons, was conduct ed. Ar chdeacon Nor r i s, hi s seni or ex -

ami ni ng chapl ai n, wr i t es :

" The ar r angement s f or t he Ember weeks wer e as f ol l ows

" The candi dat es came up on t he Wednesday eveni ng. As

" many as t he Bi shop' s house woul d hol d wer e r ecei ved by

" hi m ; f or t he r est he f ound beds at f r i ends' houses i n t he

" nei ghbour hood. On Thur sday mor ni ng we al l r ecei ved

" t he Hol y Communi on t oget her i n t he pr i vat e chapel .

" Then f ol l owed a t hr ee hour s paper on t he Gr eek Tcst a-

" ment , and a t hr ee hour s paper on Doct r i ne and Pr act i ce ;

" at 6. 30 P. M. evensong wi t h a char ge f r om t he Bi shop. On

" Fr i day, af t er mor ni ng ser vi ce i n t he chapel , paper s on t he

" Ol d Test ament i n t he f or enoon, and on Evi dences and

" Chur ch Hi st or y i n t he af t er noon ; t hen evensong wi t h a

" second char ge. On Sat ur day mor ni ng pr ayer i n t he

" chapel , Lat i n Composi t i on, and a ser mon ; evensong wi t h

" a t hi r d char ge. "

" Each candi dat e was exami ned i ndi vi dual l y and or al l y by

" t he chapl ai ns ; and t he Bi shop had a pr i vat e i nt er vi ew

244 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

" wi t h each. I n t he eveni ngs t her e was supper and musi c

" f or al l who l i ked t o come.

" I n hi s l at er year s al l who sought or di nat i on came up

" some weeks bef or e t he Ember week f or a pr el i mi nar y

" exami nat i on, t he deacons i n Hol y Scr i pt ur e, t he pr i est s i n

" t he t ext books ment i oned above. Thi s not onl y r el i eved

" t he wor k of t he Ember week, but al so enabl ed t he Bi shop

" t o caut i on backwar d candi dat es pr i vat el y t hat t hey woul d

" do wel l t o del ay t hei r or di nat i on some f ew mont hs, when

" needed. Hi s chapl ai ns woul d have been gl ad i f a l ar ger

l i por t i on of t he exami nat i on coul d have been t aken at t he

" ear l i er dat e, so as t o r el i eve t he Ember week yet f ur t her ,

" , and enabl e us t o spend some hour s of each day devot i on-

" al l y. But t he Bi shop f ear ed t hat t he maj or i t y of t he men

" woul d not appr eci at e t hi s, or t ur n t he devot i onal hour s t o

" good account . And anyt hi ng l i ke unr eal i t y, or a f or ci ng

" of devot i on, was abhor r ent t o hi m. Labor ar e est or ar e

" was hi s maxi m, and har d wor k was never i r ksome t o hi m,

" nor unf i t t ed hi m f or pr ayer and devot i on ; and he was

" apt t o make scant al l owance f or t he i nf i r mi t i es of ot her s

" i n t hese r espect s. I am sur e t hat he of t en f ai l ed t o r eal i se

" how i nt el l ect ual wear i ness, and anxi et y about t he r esul t ,

' unf i t t ed many of t he men t o appr oach t hei r or di nat i on i n

" a r eal l y devot i onal spi r i t . But , on t he ot her si de, i t was

" one of t he st r ong poi nt s i n t he Bi shop' s char act er , t hat he

" was al ways nat ur al . The men * coul d not f ai l t o see t hi s

" and t o appr eci at e i t . Speaki ng t o t hem i n t he chapel af t er

" evensong f r om t he f ew not es t hat he had put t oget her i n

" hi s st udy, hi s ear nest war ni ngs, hi s pat het i c appeal s, hi s

" ever f r esh appl i cat i ons of Hol y Scr i pt ur e t o t he dut i es and

' i nner l i f e of t he cl er gyman, came, and wer e f el t t o come,

" f r om hi s l i ps and hear t as nat ur al l y as af t er war ds t he

" pl easant anecdot e and pl ayf ul conver sat i on i n t he dr awi ng-

Page 82 of 87

CHAP. i v. ORDI NATI ONS. 245

" r oom. To have endeavour ed t o sust ai n t he hi gher t one

" of t he chapel dur i ng t he hour or t wo of r el axat i on t hat

" f ol l owed, woul d have been al i en t o hi s nat ur e.

" Tal ki ng of t he ' r et r eat s ' and ' qui et days ' i n whi ch

" many of t he cl er gy have come t o f i nd gr eat comf or t , he

" used t o say t o me : ' I can ent i r el y bel i eve t hat such

" days ar e pr of i t abl e t o ot her s ; but hear t y, ear nest wor k i s

" ' my best of f er i ng t o God. And her e i n Manchest er I

" ' coul d not wel l spar e mor e t han an hour or t wo f or such

" ' devot i onal exer ci ses. ' "

Dec. 24/ / <, 1875. To Ar chdeacon Nor r i s. " l am af r ai d

you have been t hi nki ng al l manner of evi l of me f or my

appar ent negl ect of your l et t er s and suggest i ons concer ni ng

t he conduct of f ut ur e or di nat i ons. But i t i s t he exceedi ng

di f f i cul t y of t he subj ect whi ch makes me hesi t at e, and even

now I can' t see my way at al l cl ear . I st i l l t hi nk t hat

somet hi ng not ver y di f f er ent f r om our pr esent manner of

spendi ng t he t i me i s best and heal t hi est f or t he mass of

men, I don' t bel i eve t hat t he i nt el l ect ual exer ci ses al ack !

f or t he l i t t l e i nt el l ect t hat i s gener al l y shown i n wor ki ng

t hem ar e a hi ndr ance t o a spi r i t ual f r ame of mi nd, and I

t hi nk i t qui t e possi bl e t o at t empt t o f or ce t hi s l at t er i nt o an

exagger at ed, abnor mal , and t her ef or e unheal t hy, t emper a-

t ur e. But I shal l be gl ad t o do anyt hi ng t hat can be done

t o br i ng t he mor e di r ect i nf l uence of pr ayer and medi t at i on

and godl y counsel , t o bear on t he candi dat es i ndi vi dual l y,

and i f any pr act i cal scheme can be suggest ed, I wi l l t hank -

f ul l y f al l i nt o i t . Can you come and hel p me i n Lent , and

t hen we wi l l have a good del i ber at i on upon t he mat t er wi t h

t he Dean, Anson, and Bi r l ey? But I assur e you I have

had f r equent t est i mony f r om t he best men t hat t hey haye

been, I won' t say sat i sf i ed wi t h, but benef i t ed by, t hi ngs as

t hey ar e. St i l l , I don' t deny t hat i mpr ovement i s possi bl e. "

CHAPTER V.

" Sur el y t hat wi ser t i me shal l come

When t hi s f i ne over pl us of mi ^ ht ,

No l onger sul l en, sl ow and dumb,

Shal l l eap t o musi c and t o l i ght .

" I n t hat new chi l dhood of t he ear t h

Li f e of i t sel f shal l dance and pl ay,

Fr esh bl ood i n Ti me' s ol d vei ns make mi r t h,

And Labour meet Del i ght hal f way. "

J. K. LOWELL, l l eawr Br ook.

MANCHESTER.

THE LABOUR QUESTI ON. TRADES UNI ONS CO- OPERATI ON.

I 8 74 .

I N t he Di ocese of Manchest er , t he cent r e of Engl and' s

i ndust r i al l i f e, i t was of cour se i mpossi bl e t hat a Bi shop

shoul d not be conf r ont ed at once wi t h t he pr obl ems of t he

l abour quest i on ; and equal l y i mpossi bl e f or a Bi shop of

Er aser ' s t emper and pr i nci pl es t o st and al oof f r om t hem on

t he pl ea t hat t he Chur ch had no concer n wi t h such, bei ng

onl y r esponsi bl e f or t he spi r i t ual l i f e of t he nat i on. I n hi s

qui et count r y par i sh he had onl y been a di st ant spect at or of

Page 83 of 87

t he st r uggl e, but , as was hi s wont , had f or med a ver y deci ded

opi ni on upon t he cent r al and cr i t i cal quest i on r ound whi ch

t he bat t l e was i n t hose days r agi ng most f i er cel y. Thi s

opi ni on was soon dr awn f r om hi m i n Manchest er , and he

gave i t conci sel y, pr eci sel y, and once f or al l , i n t he wor ds,

" I am no l over of t he pr i nci pl es of t r ades uni oni sm, but

CHAP. v. UMPI RE. 247

t hey have been f or ced on t he wor ki ng cl asses by t he

i nequi t abl e use of t he power of capi t al . "

Thi s emphat i c ut t er ance, put t i ng, I t hi nk, t r ul y t he con-

cl usi on t o whi ch t he i ndependent j udgment of t he nat i on

was al r eady l eani ng, dr ew on hi m t he f i r e of bot h si des : t he

empl oyer s t aki ng car e t hat he shoul d be i nf or med of al l

hi gh- handed or t yr anni cal doi ngs of t he uni ons, and t he

wor ki ng men r et ur ni ng t he compl i ment wi t h equal vi gi l ance.

The Bi shop, as usual , went hi s own way, pr ompt l y answer -

i ng al l appeal s, and never mi nci ng or par i ng down hi s

honest opi ni on t o sui t t he pr ej udi ces or vi ews of ei t her si de.

Of cour se t he r esul t was, t hat he was const ant l y bdng

t aken t o t ask by t he or gans of bot h, whi l e at t he same t i me

t he f ai t h of bot h si des i n hi s f ai r ness and sympat hy was

st eadi l y gr owi ng. The f i r st publ i c pr oof of t hi s occur r ed

i n t he spr i ng of 1874, when, i n a di sput e bet ween t he

mast er pai nt er s of Manchest er and Sal f or d and t hei r men,

t he ar bi t r at or s bei ng unabl e t o agr ee, bot h si des appeal ed t o

hi m t o act as umpi r e, under t hei r " wor ki ng r ul es, agr eed t o

bet ween t he empl oyer s and oper at i ve pai nt er s of Manchest er

and Sal f or d, on Januar y 6t h, 1871. "

The Bi shop accept ed t he of f i ce, and went i nt o al l t he

quest i ons at i ssue wi t h hi s usual zeal and t hor oughness. He

del i ver ed hi s awar d i n wr i t i ng on t he 27t h of Mar ch, pr e-

f aci ng i t wi t h " As I t hi nk i t wi l l be mor e sat i sf act or y t o

bot h par t i es i f I gi ve not onl y my deci si on, but ( as br i ef l y as

may be) t he r easons whi ch have l ed me t o i t i n each case,

i t wi l l be t he si mpl est and cl ear est cour se t o deal wi t h each

r ul e i n or der . " Thi s he t hen pr oceeds t o do.

Those who have had exper i ence i n t hese r ef er ences, wi l l ,

I t hi nk, demur t o t he Bi shop' s concl usi on. Gi vi ng r easons

f or t he deci si on ar r i ved at by an umpi r e i n a t r ade di sput e

wi l l be f ound as a r ul e mer el y t o exasper at e t he par t i es, and

248 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

t o pr ol ong t he war of wor ds and ar gument s. I n t he case i n

quest i on, however , no har m seems t o have come of i t , and

t he Bi shop' s awar d i nsur ed peace i n t he t r ade f or t wo year s.

I t deal t wi t h t hr ee poi nt s, and deci ded " ( i ) t hat t he

mi ni mum r at e of wage per hour shal l be 7| d. ( 2) That

over t i me on f ul l wor ki ng days shal l not be pai d f or at t he

r at e of " t i me and hal f " bef or e t he hour of 9 P. M. : but t hat

on Sat ur days, whet her a j ob i s bei ng f i ni shed or not , over -

t i me shal l be r eckoned and pai d f or at t he usual r at e. ( 3)

That i s. per week ext r a shal l be al l owed t o men empl oyed

on count r y j obs who ar e r equi r ed t o st ay away f r om home

on Sunday. "

The r ul es wer e al t er ed i n accor dance wi t h t hi s deci si on,

and t he Bi shop hear d no mor e of t he pai nt er s t i l l Mar ch,

1876, when t he cour t of ar bi t r at i on agai n appeal ed t o hi m

Page 84 of 87

t o act as umpi r e, and he agai n consent ed, and went once

mor e t hr ough t he usual dr udger y of wei ghi ng and compar i ng

t he cont r adi ct or y st at ement s and f i gur es of t wo set s of di s -

put ant s, nei t her of whom wi l l f r ankl y put t hei r umpi r e i n

possessi on of t he whol e of t he f act s. Agai n t he Bi shop i n

hi s awar d gave t he r easons f or hi s deci si on, an ext r act f r om

whi ch may be gi ven her e.

The men wer e appl yi ng f or an i ncr ease of i d. an hour on

t he r at e of i \ d. f i xed by hi m t wo year s bef or e. " I t was i n-

deed asser t ed, " wr i t es t he Bi shop, " t hat t he men coul d not

' l i ve i n comf or t ' on t hi s wage, and t hei r condi t i on was even

r epr esent ed as ' l i t t l e bet t er t han pauper s. ' But i t was r e-

pl i ed t hat a wage whi ch ( excl usi ve of over t i me) amount s t o

j i 14$. o\ d. per week, and, al l owi ng f or t hr ee mont hs l ost

t i me i n t he year , gi ves an aver age weekl y i ncome f or t he f i f t y -

t wo weeks of i 6s. zd. , was consi der abl y above t he ear ni ngs

of l ar ge cl asses of men i n Manchest er car t er s, gar dener s,

&c. who cer t ai nl y woul d not consent t o be char act er i sed

CHAP. v. TRADE DI SPUTES. 249

as pauper s. ' Li vi ng i n comf or t ' i s a phr ase dependi ng f or

i t s meani ng on t he i deas of hi m who uses i t . I hear t i l y

wi sh t hat ever y wor ki ng man i n Engl and wer e i n possessi on

of ever y comf or t whi ch hi s st at i on wi l l r easonabl y al l ow hi m

t o pr ocur e, and wi t h t he cul t i vat i on of f r ugal and t emper at e

habi t s, much mor e mi ght be done i n t hi s desi r abl e di r ect i on

t han i s done ; but I vent ur e t o t hi nk t hat i n det er mi ni ng t he

r at e of wages I must not be l ed away by a somewhat vague

phr ase, but must be gui ded i n my j udgment by ot her and

mor e r el evant consi der at i ons. My own obser vat i on of t he

condi t i on of t hi s count r y, i n whi ch many gr eat br anches of

i ndust r y ar e l yi ng al most pr ost r at e, and none of t he st apl e

t r ades of t hi s di st r i ct can be cal l ed f l our i shi ng, woul d l ead

me t o t he concl usi on at whi ch t he mast er s have ar r i ved,

vi z. , t hat t he publ i c gener al l y can i l l af f or d t o meet enhanced

pr i ces, whi ch woul d necessar i l y f ol l ow a hi gher wage r at e ;

and t hat i f pi i ces ar e enhanced t r ade woul d pr obabl y be i n

t he same pr opor t i on cont r act ed. The demand, t her ef or e,

f or an i mmedi at e advance of wages woul d seem t o be i n-

oppor t une. " And t hen, af t er comment i ng on t he r at es of

t went y- f our t owns i n t he nor t h, some hi gher , some l ower ,

t han t he Manchest er r at e, he goes on, " I t must not be

f or got t en al so t hat t he wage r at e f i xed by t he r ul es i s a

mi ni mum r at e, and t hat good men can and do ear n hi gher

wages, so t hat a man has onl y t o i mpr ove hi s ski l l as a

t r adesman t o i mpr ove hi s posi t i on as a wage- ear ner . Upon

t hese consi der at i ons whi ch I have t hought i t wel l t o st at e

f ul l y, my or i gi nal concl usi on was, not t o di st ur b t he ar r ange-

ment of 1874. But upon r ef l ect i on t hat i t was admi t t ed

t hat t her e has been a sl i ght i ncr ease i n house r ent , and,

f ol l owi ng t he usual met hod of compr omi se t o hal ve t he

amount i n di sput e, I have f i nal l y deci ded* t hat * } \ d. per hour

t he mean bet ween t he i d. of f er ed by t he mast er s and t he

250 . LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART 11.

%\ d. demanded by t he men wi l l not be an i nequi t abl e

sol ut i on of a pr obl em, al l t he el ement s of whi ch ar e wi t h

di f f i cul t y appr ehended by one out si de t he t r ade, and I awar d

accor di ngl y. I am af r ai d t hat t he deci si on wi l l not gi ve

sat i sf act i on t o ei t her par t y, but I hope I shal l have cr edi t f or

havi ng at t empt ed t o deci de i t f ai r l y and wi t hout f avour . "

Page 85 of 87

Hi s exper i ence wi t h t he pai nt er s made hi m r at her shy of

t he of f i ce of umpi r e i n t r ades di sput es f or t he f ut ur e. To

spend t hr ee or f our days har d at wor k on det ai l ed st at ement s

of account s, whi ch you f eel al l t he t i me ar e, not exact l y

cooked, but so ar r anged and mani pul at ed, bot h as t o what

i s di scl osed and what conceal ed, t hat you never can f eel

sur e of your pr emi sses, i s an occupat i on whi ch t o a busy and

accur at e man can never seem pr of i t abl e. And t he usual

concl usi on, ar r i ved at by t he Bi shop i n t hi s i nst ance as

happens, l et us add, i n ni ne such cases out of t en wi t h

ot her t han epi scopal umpi r es t o spl i t t he di f f er ence be-

t ween t he par t i es i s, i t must be owned, not ot her wi se t han a

humi l i at i ng one.

Never t hel ess he was st i l l r eady t o come f or war d as a

peacemaker , and never l ost an oppor t uni t y of pr ot est i ng

agai nst t he f ol l y and t he wast e of st r i kes and l ock - out s.

Thus, when t he Agr i cul t ur al Uni on i n 1874 f i r st began t o

show t hat i t was becomi ng a power whi ch mi ght have t o be

r eckoned wi t h i n t he f ut ur e, and t he empl oyer s endeavour ed

t o cr ush i t bef or e t he mi schi ef was done, a l et t er of t he

Bi shop' s went t he r ound of t he paper s whi ch sor el y t r i ed t he

publ i c, and dr ew on hi m a per f ect st or m of l et t er s, abusi ve,

sympat het i c, cr i t i cal . " Ar e t he f ar mer s of Engl and mad?"

t he peccant sent ences r an. " Fai r wages wi l l have t o be

pai d t o t he l abour er . I f f ar mer s can' t af f or d f ai r wages

at pr esent , r ent s must come down an unpl easant t hi ng

no doubt f or t hose who wi l l spend t he r ent of a 300 aer o

CHAP. v. STRI KES. 251

f ar m on a si ngl e bal l , or a pai r of hi gh- st eppi ng hor ses, but

never t hel ess i nevi t abl e. "

1878.

When t he gr eat cot t on st r i ke i n Nor t h- East Lancashi r e

i n t he summer of 1878, on t he quest i on of 10 per cent ,

r educt i on of wages, had l ast ed f or seven weeks, t he oper a-

t i ves pr oposed t o r ef er t he poi nt s i n di sput e t o hi m ( no

doubt as an escape f r om t he humi l i at i on of an uncondi t i onal

sur r ender ) . Thi s t he empl oyer s, now sur e of t hei r gr ound,

r ef used, but i t gave t he Bi shop t he chance of maki ng an

appeal , and r eadi ng bot h si des a l esson. " I appeal t o you

as your Bi shop, " he wr ot e, " bound by my or i f i ce t o pr omot e

peace i n t hi s count y : as a r esi dent amongst you wi t nessi ng

t he f ear f ul di st r ess and mi ser y whi ch t hi s di sput e i s causi ng :

as an Engl i shman i nt er est ed i n t he pr osper i t y of my count r y

whi ch t hese t r ade di sput es ar e t hr eat eni ng t o dest r oy, t o put

an end t o t hi s mad war . Thi s i s t he sevent h week of i dl e-

ness, and t he l oss t o t he wor kpeopl e has al r eady mount ed

up t o 525, 0007. i n wages al one. What next ? The ext r a-

or di nar y gr owt h and pr osper i t y of t hi s busi ness i n past

year s woul d seem t o have bl i nded al l connect ed wi t h i t .

The pr osper i t y of f ool s shal l dest r oy t hem ! " The Bi shop

exhor t ed i n vai n. I n a week or t wo t he oper at i ves had t o

sur r ender uncondi t i onal l y and go back t o wor k on t he 10

per cent , r educt i on. No br i dge or even pl ank f or r et r eat

was al l owed by t he t r i umphant empl oyer s, who wer e r esol ved

t hat t he wor kpeopl e shoul d dr i nk t he cup of humi l i at i on

t o t he dr egs. They dr ank, and t he t ast e r emai ns i n t hei r

mout hs t o t hi s day.

Thr ee year s l at er anot her wi de- spr ead st r i ke occur r ed i n

Bol t on and t he nei ghbour hood. A l ocal r el i ef f und f or t he

Page 86 of 87

f ami l i es of t he oper at i ves was opened t o whi ch t he Bi shop

252 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART n.

sent 20/ . Thi s was acknowl edged by Mr . Br oadhur st , t he

Secr et ar y of t he Par l i ament ar y Commi t t ee of t he Tr ade

Uni ons, who t ook t he occasi on t o f or war d copi es of t he

r epor t s. I n acknowl edgi ng t hem t he Bi shop t ook car e t o

show t hat he had not changed hi s mi nd as t o t he Uni ons

and t hei r pol i cy. " I t sur el y i ndi cat es, " he wr ot e, " t hat

somet hi ng i s needed, when at Bol t on i t has r equi r ed a st r i ke

of ni ne weeks, i nvol vi ng a l oss of 9o, ooo/ . i n wages, t o

ar r i ve at a set t l ement whi ch mi ght j ust as easi l y have been

ar r i ved at wi t hout any st r i ke at al l . " I t was i n connect i on

wi t h t hi s st r i ke t hat he comment ed on t he l uxur y and

ext r avagance whi ch was gr owi ng i n sever al di st r i ct s, i n-

st anci ng t he case whi ch had come t o hi s knowl edge of a

f act or y gi r l gi vi ng t hr ee gui neas f or f eat her s. " Wher ever

l uxur y mar ches a wast e i s l ef t behi nd as i f an host i l e ar my

had passed. " Agai n, " He was t ol d, f or soot h ! t hat l uxur y

was good f or t r ade ! i f good t r ade means bankr upt cy bot h

t o t r adesman and cust omer , per haps i t i s. "

He cont i nued t o t he end t o make hi s pr ot est whenever

occasi on of f er ed agai nst t he f ol l y of st r i kes and t he f ear f ul

r esponsi bi l i t y of t hose who pr omot ed t hem. One of t he l ast

and most power f ul of t hese was a ser mon on t he subj ect at

Bl ackbur n on Januar y 27t h, 1884.

We may now t ur n, wi t h a sense of r el i ef , t o hi s r el at i ons

wi t h t he ot her and hopef ul si de of t he l abour movement ,

co- oper at i on. Of t hi s, even mor e t han of t r ades - uni oni sm,

he f ound hi msel f i n t he ver y cent r e. The of f i ces of t he

Cent r al Boar d wer e i n Manchest er , and t he publ i shi ng of f i ce

of " The Co- oper at i ve News. " The whol esal e soci et y, or

f eder at i on of t he associ at i ons t hr oughout t he count r y f or

pur chasi ng, al so had i t s war ehouses t her e, and i n many of

t he Lancashi r e t owns and vi l l ages a l ar ge and const ant l y

i ncr easi ng por t i on of t he t r ade was al r eady i n t he hands of

CHAP. v. CO- OPERATI ON. 253

t he associ at i ons. Now t he Bi shop had been t he f i r st per son

of any i nf l uence out si de t he co- oper at i ve body t o dr aw

publ i c at t ent i on t o t he movement . So f ar as t he publ i c

wer e concer ned he had been t he di scover er of t he Assi ngt on

Agr i cul t ur al Associ at i on ; and, as r eader s may r emember ,

i n hi s r epor t as a sub- commi ssi oner had expr essed war m

appr oval of t he pr i nci pl es of t he associ at i on, and a wi sh f or

t hei r ext ensi on. I t was a cause t her ef or e of much r ej oi ci ng

t o t he Co- oper at i ve Uni on when hi s appoi nt ment was an-

nounced, f or at t hat t i me out si de hel p was st i l l val uabl e,

bot h i n Par l i ament and t he count r y. The Uni on, however ,

much t o t hei r cr edi t , abst ai ned f r om seeki ng t o par ade hi m

as an al l y. Gr eat j eal ousy of t he movement pr evai l ed

amongst t he t r adi ng cl asses t hr oughout t he count r y, whi ch

was even shar ed t o some ext ent by t he Tr ades Uni oni st s ;

and i t was f el t t hat i t mi ght ser i ousl y j eopar di se hi s i nf l uence

f or good gener al l y i f he wer e t o be pushed t o t he f r ont as

an advocat e and suppor t er of co- oper at i on. I t was onl y,

t her ef or e, on r ar e and speci al occasi ons t hat he was asked t o

t ake any act i ve par t i n publ i c. Never t hel ess i t was i mpossi bl e

t hat t he f act of hi s sympat hy shoul d not become known, and

equal l y i mpossi bl e t hat i t shoul d not become t he subj ect of

Page 87 of 87

war ni ng and comment i n t he pr ess. To t hi s he pai d no heed,

goi ng hi s own way, and never out of hi s own way ; but t aki ng

car e al so never t o conceal or par e away any convi ct i on

whi ch he hel d when t he occasi on f or speaki ng came. Thus,

when at l engt h t aken ser i ousl y t o t ask by t he Gr ocer s'

Def ence Associ at i on, and war ned t hat " a di gni f i ed neu-

t r al i t y" upon t hi s quest i on was t he pr oper at t i t ude f or a

Bi shop, he r epl i ed pr ompt l y, " a di gni f i ed neut r al i t y i s not

my at t i t ude on any quest i on I t hi nk i mpor t ant . "

I t was not t i l l 1878, when hi s posi t i on had become t oo

secur e t o be damaged by f r i end or f oe, t hat he was cal l ed on

254 LI FE OF BI SHOP FRASER. PART I T.

t u i dent i f y hi msel f publ i cl y wi t h co- oper at i on. I n t hat

year t he annual Congr ess was hel d i n Manchest er . The

Bi shop was of cour se i nvi t ed. He came on t he pl at f or m

on t he f i r st day t o suppor t Lor d Ri pon, and on t he second

hi msel f pr esi ded. Hi s addr ess was t hor oughl y char act er i st i c

of t he man, whose speci al f unct i on as an or at or was

al ways not t o say sof t t hi ngs whi ch hi s audi ence woul d l i ke

t o hear . He had not been on hi s f eet t wo mi nut es bef or e

he had assur ed t he meet i ng t hat t hough an ol d bel i ever i n

t he pr i nci pl e he had never spent si xpence i n a co- oper at i ve

st or e, and di dn' t mean t o do so as l ong as hi s t r adesmen

ser ved hi m wel l . Then, passi ng over t he st at i st i cs of i n-

cr easi ng number s and t r ade, so t empt i ng a subj ect f or t he

or di nar y chai r man, he put hi s f i nger at once upon what

pr obabl y t hr ee- f our t hs of hi s hear er s knew t o be t he t ender

pl ace. He was af r ai d, he sai d, as an i nt er est ed wat cher

of t he movement , t hat ser i ous di sast er must be i n st or e f or

many of t he mi l l s whi ch had of l at e been, and st i l l wer e

bei ng, st ar t ed by t he wor ki ng men, bot h as r egi st er ed i n-

dust r i al soci et i es and as j oi nt st ock compani es, at Ol dham

and el sewher e. The r ecent year s of gr eat pr osper i t y seemed

t o have t ur ned t hei r heads, and made t hem r eckl ess, and

r eady t o f al l i nt o t he bad pat hs whi ch i t was t he mai n obj ect

of t hei r movement t o avoi d and pr ot est agai nst . And t hen

f ol l owed one of t hose humor ous scenes whi ch not sel dom

occur r ed at hi s publ i c meet i ngs. He was speaki ng as usual

wi t hout a not e, and f ol l owi ng wher ever hi s subj ect mi ght

l ead hi m. Somet hi ng had been sai d on t he f i r st day as t o

t he nar r owness of t he cl er gy, and t hei r want of sympat hy

wi t h co- oper at i on. Ref er r i ng t o t hi s t he Bi shop went on,

" I am mor e of a Li ber al t han a Conser vat i ve mysel f , but

i t may be t r ue t hat t he gr eat body of t he cl er gy ar e Con-

ser vat i ve. Haven' t t hey got a good t hi ng t o conser ve?"

CHAP. v. THE CO- OPERATI VE CONGRESS. 255

At once, ye' Acos a